🔗 Share this article

Zaher Ibrahim

A Palestinian-American adolescent having endured 270 days in Israeli detention absent formal charges has been freed.

Mohammed Ibrahim was fifteen years old during his detention last February within the occupied West Bank, while he was vacationing on holiday from Florida under suspicion of rock throwing at Jewish settlers, allegations he repeatedly contested.

American diplomatic officials said it welcomed the news of Mohammed's release.

Currently aged sixteen, required hospitalization right after being freed, relatives told the media.

They said he is visibly pale and thin, and experiencing medical problems contracted in captivity.

Via family representatives, Mohammed's uncle expressed the family's "tremendous relief".

The uncle, Zeyad Kadur said the family had been "surviving a terrible, unending nightmare" throughout the past nine months.

"At this moment, our priority is providing Mohammed with urgent medical care necessary for his recovery after experiencing harsh conditions and cruel circumstances throughout his detention."

The state department announced ongoing to extend consular services to the teenager's relatives.

{"US government authorities gives utmost importance to the protection and welfare of American nationals"," officials stated.

Twenty-seven US lawmakers submitted a formal letter to US authorities and the White House, urging greater action for his freedom.

Mr Ibrahim, parent of four children managing a frozen treats business from Florida, had earlier stated his son only confessed regarding stone throwing due to physical abuse.

There were no visits or spoken to Mohammed following the detention, and only heard what had happened to him in detention through court documents.

The teenager remained without charge at Ofer detention facility throughout the occupied territory.

The facility also contains grown detainees, including individuals found guilty regarding severe security violations and murder.

There are around 350 Palestinian minors in security custody detained within Israeli facilities, per correctional service statistics.

Many have never been charged while advocacy organizations, as well as the United Nations, document cases involving abuse and torture.

After the teenager's freedom, Mr Kadur said the family would also continue fighting seeking justice for their relative family member Sayfollah.

The dual national youth according to health authorities was beaten to death by radical settlers amid clashes last July.

Initially, the Israeli military said authorities were looking into accounts of a Palestinian had died.

The two cousins collaborated within the family's frozen treats establishment in Tampa, Florida.

No charges have been filed regarding Sayfollah's death.

"We anticipate United States leadership to safeguard our relatives," family representatives emphasized.