Court Hearing for Palestinian-American Teen Held Without Charge by Israel

Wed Nov 26 2025 21:44:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American teenager, is set to appear in Israeli court after nine months in detention without charges. The case has raised significant concerns among US lawmakers.

Mohammed Ibrahim, 16, has been in Israeli custody since February 2025 for allegedly throwing stones at Israeli settlers, a claim he denies. His case has caught the attention of Democratic lawmakers in the US, who are urging the state department to intervene for his release. His family asserts that he was treated harshly and that he only confessed under duress. The controversy over his detention reflects broader issues of the treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli jails.

Court Hearing for Palestinian-American Teen Held Without Charge by Israel

A Palestinian-American teenager, Mohammed Ibrahim, is expected to appear in an Israeli court later this week after being held for nine months without being charged.

The 16-year-old, who resides in Florida, was arrested in February while on holiday at his family's home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He faces allegations of throwing stones at Israeli settlers, which he firmly denies.

Last month, a coalition of 27 Democratic US Senators and House members submitted a letter to the US State Department, urging the Biden administration to advocate for Mohammed's release amid concerns regarding his treatment in detention.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has stated that Mohammed committed a serious potentially deadly crime and emphasized the adherence to due process in his case.

However, his family argues against this characterization. You can ask anybody you know; he's a real sweet boy, into his sports and his PlayStation and school, his father, Zahar Ibrahim, expressed with visible emotion. Since his arrest, Mr. Ibrahim has not been able to communicate with his son, relying solely on court documents for information.

According to these documents, Mohammed was apprehended in a midnight raid at the family's holiday home in al-Mazraa al-Sharqiya, where he was treated violently. Mr. Ibrahim claims his son was coerced into confessing to the stone-throwing incident due to mistreatment during the arrest.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office has not addressed inquiries regarding the lack of formal charges against Mohammed or responding to allegations of abuse in custody.

The case has attracted significant attention due to Mohammed's American citizenship. US government officials have been involved, with embassy staff reportedly visiting him in prison. Reports suggest he has lost significant weight and is not faring well.

Mr. Ibrahim is calling upon President Joe Biden to fulfill the promise of prioritizing American citizens' safety, highlighting the lack of adequate intervention in his son's case. What's lucky about an American passport? It's not helping, he lamented.

In the wake of mounting pressure, some US lawmakers believe that the case represents an opportunity for the United States to exert its influence, although they perceive a reluctance from the Trump administration to confront the Israeli government.

Currently, Mohammed remains detained in Ofer prison alongside other minors and serious offenders. Other reports indicate that hundreds of Palestinian minors are in a similar situation, many held without charges and subjected to mistreatment.

The Ibrahim family's ordeal underscores the complexities and humanitarian concerns associated with the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli custody as they await further developments in court.