Palestinian-American teenager Mohammed Ibrahim has been freed from Israeli detention after more than nine months in custody, in a case that drew international attention and intervention from US lawmakers.
The 16-year-old from Florida was arrested in February, when he was 15, during an Israeli raid on his family home in al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.
He was accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers a charge he denied and was held without trial for most of his detention, according to his family and rights groups.
In a statement following his release on Thursday, his uncle Zeyad Kadur said the family was “immensely relieved” to have him home.
“We couldn’t believe Mohammed was free until his parents wrapped their arms around him and felt him safe,” Kadur said.
During his time in custody, advocates say Mohammed’s health sharply deteriorated. He lost a significant amount of weight, developed a skin infection, and was denied regular contact with his family. Israeli authorities did not grant him visitation rights, and communication with his family came only through US consular officials.
His father, Zaher Ibrahim, said Mohammed had been blindfolded and beaten during his arrest.
“Israeli soldiers had no right to take Mohammed from us in the first place,” the family said, describing the experience as “a horrific and endless nightmare.”
A pressure campaign from US lawmakers intensified over the past month, with 27 members of Congress signing a letter urging the Trump administration to intervene. Senator Chris Van Hollen was among those who publicly called for Mohammed’s release, citing concerns for his safety and wellbeing.
The US State Department confirmed that officials had been monitoring the case closely and had raised it with Israeli authorities.
In a statement, Mohammed’s family thanked supporters in both the United States and Palestine, saying they planned to celebrate his belated 16th birthday at home, with his mother Muna cooking his favourite meal.
“No parent should ever have to go through what Mohammed’s mother and father endured,” the family said.
Rights groups have cited the case as an example of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian minors, many of whom are detained under military law in the occupied West Bank.
According to Defence for Children International–Palestine, hundreds of Palestinian children are arrested and prosecuted each year, often without access to legal counsel or family contact.