US-Palestinian teen freed after nine months in Israeli jail

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 hospital for treatment immediately after release, relatives told the media. They said he is, pale, underweight and is suffering from conditions contracted in captivity.

In a statement, Mohammed’s uncle spoke of the family’s “immense relief”. Zeyad Kadur said the family had been “living a horrific and endless nightmare” over the last nine months.

“Right now, we are focused on getting Mohammed the immediate medical attention he needs after being subjected to Israel’s abuse and inhumane conditions for months. We just want Mohammed to be healthy and to have his childhood back,” he said.

“Israeli soldiers had no right to take Mohammed from us in the first place,” he added.

The state department said it would continue to provide consular support to Mohammed’s family. “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens,” it added.

Earlier this week Mohammed’s father Zahar Ibrahim told the BBC he was frustrated that the US government was not doing more to get his son out of jail.

Twenty-seven US lawmakers had signed a letter to the state department and President Donald Trump, demanding more be done to release him.

Mr Ibrahim, a father-of-four who runs an ice cream business in Florida, previously said his son only confessed to throwing stones because the soldiers beat him.

He had not seen or spoken to Mohammed since February, and only heard what had happened to him in detention through court documents.

Mohammed was held without charge in Ofer prison on the West Bank. It is also home to adult prisoners, some of whom have been convicted of serious terrorism offences and murder.

There are around 350 Palestinian child security detainees being held in Israeli jails, according to the Israeli Prison Service.

Many have never been charged and human rights groups, as well as the United Nations, say some have suffered abuse and torture.

Following Mohammed’s release, Mr Kadur said the family would also continue fighting for justice for his cousin Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old dual US citizen who the Palestinian health ministry said was beaten to death by Israeli settlers during a confrontation in July.

At the time the Israeli military said authorities were looking into reports a Palestinian civilian had been killed.

Mohammed and Sayfollah had worked together in the family ice cream shop in Tampa, Florida. No one has been charged with Sayfollah’s killing.

“We expect the American government to protect our families,” Mr Kadur said.