Palestinian-American Teen Released After Nine Months of Detention in Israel

Fri Nov 28 2025 14:46:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American, returns home after spending nine months in Israeli custody, raising questions about detention practices in the region.

Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American who was arrested in the West Bank when he was 15, has been released after nine months in Israeli detention without charge. His family expressed relief but also concerns about his health following alleged mistreatment while in custody. The U.S. State Department welcomed his release and pledged ongoing support, while questions persist regarding the conditions and practices surrounding the detention of Palestinian minors.

A Palestinian-American teenager who spent nine months in Israeli detention without charge has been freed.

Mohammed Ibrahim was 15 when he was arrested in February in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where he was visiting on holiday from Florida, for allegedly throwing stones at Jewish settlers, which he previously denied.

The US State Department said it welcomed the news of Mohammed's release.

The BBC has contacted the Israeli authorities but has not received a reply.

Mohammed, now 16, was taken to the hospital for treatment immediately after his release, with relatives reporting he is pale, underweight, and suffering from conditions contracted in captivity.

In a statement, Mohammed's uncle spoke of the family's immense relief. Zeyad Kadur described their previous nine months as a horrific and endless nightmare. He emphasized that the family is focused on getting Mohammed the medical attention he needs after being subjected to abuse and inhumane conditions.

Asserting his innocence, Zeyad stated, Israeli soldiers had no right to take Mohammed from us in the first place.

The State Department assured continued consular support for Mohammed's family, stating that the safety of US citizens is a priority.

Earlier, Mohammed's father had expressed frustration regarding the lack of action from the US government, despite 27 US lawmakers urging more effort to facilitate his son's release.

During his detention, Mohammed allegedly confessed to throwing stones only under duress from Israeli soldiers, as he had not seen or spoken to them since his arrest.

Mohammed was held without charge in Ofer prison in the West Bank, a facility that includes adult prisoners, some of whom have been convicted of terrorism offenses.

According to the Israeli Prison Service, approximately 350 Palestinian child security detainees are currently held in Israeli prisons, with numerous cases reported of abuse and torture.

Following Mohammed's release, his family vowed to continue advocating for justice for his cousin Sayfollah Musallet, a dual US citizen who the Palestinian health ministry reported was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in July. No one has been charged in Sayfollah's killing, heightening the family's calls for US intervention in protecting their rights.