🔗 Share this article

Zaher Ibrahim

A Palestinian-American teenager having endured 270 days in imprisonment by Israel without charge was released.

Mohammed Ibrahim was fifteen years old at the time of his arrest last February in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, during a family visit while residing in Florida for allegedly throwing stones at Jewish settlers, allegations he repeatedly contested.

The US state department expressed satisfaction with Mohammed's liberation.

Now sixteen years old, was taken to hospital upon gaining freedom, relatives told the media.

According to them, he appears pale, underweight, while battling health issues contracted in captivity.

Via family representatives, the youth's uncle conveyed their "tremendous relief".

Zeyad Kadur described how relatives endured "living a horrific and endless nightmare" throughout the past nine months.

"Currently, our priority is getting Mohammed urgent medical care he requires after being subjected to Israel's abuse and brutal treatment over several months."

The state department said it would continue to provide consular support for the Ibrahim family.

{"American leadership considers paramount to ensuring the safety of American nationals"," it added.

Several congressional representatives submitted a formal letter to diplomatic officials and President Donald Trump, requesting additional efforts to release him.

Mohammed's parent, a father-of-four who runs an ice cream business in Florida, previously claimed his son only confessed about rock throwing due to physical abuse.

The father hadn't visited nor direct contact following the detention, receiving updates exclusively regarding the treatment through judicial records.

He stayed without charge within Ofer penitentiary throughout the occupied territory.

It is also home to adult prisoners, some of whom have been convicted for major terrorist activities including killings.

An estimated 350 Palestinian child security detainees currently imprisoned in Israel, based on prison authority data.

Many have never been charged and human rights groups, including UN bodies, say some have suffered mistreatment and torture.

Subsequent to his liberation, Mr Kadur said they would maintain their efforts seeking justice for their relative their cousin Sayfollah.

This young American-Palestinian who the Palestinian health ministry said succumbed to assault by Israeli settlers amid clashes last July.

During that period, the Israeli military said they were examining reports a Palestinian civilian had died.

The two cousins collaborated at their family's ice cream business in Tampa, Florida.

No indictments occurred regarding Sayfollah's death.

"We expect US authorities to ensure our family's safety," Mr Kadur said.