American-Palestinian Teenager Liberated Following 270 Days in Israel's Imprisonment
Zaher Ibrahim
An American-Palestinian adolescent who spent a nine-month period in Israeli detention absent formal charges has been freed.
The teenager Mohammed Ibrahim was fifteen years old during his detention last February throughout the West Bank territory, while he was vacationing from his Florida home for allegedly throwing stones against settlement residents, which he previously denied.
The US state department expressed satisfaction with the news of Mohammed's release.
Currently aged sixteen, was taken to hospital right after being freed, according to close relatives.
They said he is pale, underweight, while battling health issues contracted in captivity.
Through an official statement, family spokesperson spoke of the family's "overwhelming sense of relief".
Family member Zeyad Kadur described how relatives endured "surviving a terrible, unending nightmare" throughout the past nine months.
"Right now, we are focused on providing Mohammed with urgent medical care he needs following exposure to mistreatment by authorities and brutal treatment for months."
The state department said it would continue to extend consular services for the Ibrahim family.
{"American leadership has no higher priority than the safety and security of American nationals"," the department emphasized.
A group of American legislators had signed a letter to diplomatic officials and the White House, demanding more be done to release him.
Mohammed's parent, parent of four children operating an ice cream shop from Florida, previously said his son only confessed to throwing stones after being assaulted by soldiers.
He had not seen or communicated with his son since the arrest, receiving updates exclusively what had happened to him via legal paperwork.
Mohammed was held without charge at Ofer detention facility throughout the occupied territory.
The facility also contains adult prisoners, some of whom have been convicted of serious terrorism offences and murder.
There are around 350 Palestinian child security detainees detained within Israeli facilities, per correctional service statistics.
Numerous remain uncharged along with monitoring agencies, and international organizations, report instances of abuse and torture.
After the teenager's freedom, family representatives announced they would maintain their efforts for justice for his cousin family member Sayfollah.
The 20-year-old dual US citizen who the Palestinian health ministry said succumbed to assault by settlement residents amid clashes during summer.
During that period, military authorities reported officials were investigating information regarding a civilian had been killed.
The two cousins had worked together at their family's ice cream business from Tampa.
No indictments occurred regarding Sayfollah's death.
"We expect the American government to safeguard our relatives," family representatives emphasized.