American-Palestinian Youth Released Following Nine Months in Israeli Custody
Zaher Ibrahim
An Palestinian-American teenager having endured nine months in Israeli detention without being charged has been freed.
The teenager Mohammed Ibrahim had just turned 15 at the time of his arrest this past winter throughout the West Bank territory, during a family visit while residing in Florida accused of stone-throwing against settlement residents, claims he consistently denied.
The US state department said it welcomed the teenager's freedom.
Mohammed, now 16, needed medical care for treatment immediately after release, according to close relatives.
Family described him as visibly pale and thin, while battling health issues developed during imprisonment.
In a statement, Mohammed's uncle expressed the family's "overwhelming sense of relief".
Zeyad Kadur said the family had been "surviving a terrible, unending nightmare" during the entire detention period.
"At this moment, we are focused on ensuring Mohammed receives urgent medical care necessary for his recovery after being subjected to Israel's abuse and brutal treatment throughout his detention."
The state department said it would continue to provide consular support to the teenager's relatives.
{"The Trump Administration considers paramount to ensuring the safety of US citizens"," it added.
A group of American legislators had signed a letter to US authorities and President Donald Trump, requesting additional efforts for his freedom.
The father, a father-of-four who runs an ice cream business based in Tampa, previously said his son only confessed regarding stone throwing after being assaulted by soldiers.
There were no visits or communicated with his son since February, and only heard about his son's condition through judicial records.
He stayed lacking indictment within Ofer penitentiary throughout the occupied territory.
The facility also contains mature inmates, featuring prisoners sentenced of serious terrorism offences and murder.
Approximately 350 Palestinian child security detainees detained within Israeli facilities, per correctional service statistics.
Many have never been charged and human rights groups, and international organizations, report instances of mistreatment and torture.
After the teenager's freedom, the uncle stated the family would also continue fighting seeking justice for their relative family member Sayfollah.
The dual national youth according to health authorities succumbed to assault by Israeli settlers during a confrontation in July.
At the time, military authorities reported they were examining accounts of a Palestinian had been killed.
The two cousins were employed together in the family ice cream shop in Tampa, Florida.
No one has been charged regarding Sayfollah's death.
"We demand US authorities to protect our families," family representatives emphasized.