A Palestinian-American teenager who was detained in an Israeli prison has finally been freed after nine months of imprisonment.
The teenager was identified as 16-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim, who was given back his freedom on Thursday following a months-long pressure campaign from United States lawmakers and several civil rights groups.
Teenager Freed From Israeli Prison
Mohammed was 15 years old in February when he was arrested and taken from his family home in the town of al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, near Ramallah. In a statement, the teenage boy's uncle, Zeyad Kadur, said that words could not describe the immense relief they have as a family right now.
The young boy was detained over allegations that he threw rocks at Israeli settlers, which he denied. Mohammed's father, Zaher Ibrahim, and other relatives said that the teenager was blindfolded and beaten during the February raid of their home.
Additionally, Israeli authorities did not allow the boy to contact his family while he was in prison, nor did they give him any visitation rights. The only updates that Mohammed's family got were through U.S. officials, who were granted access to the teenager, according to Aljazeera.
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Throughout the time that Mohammed was imprisoned, his family pleaded with the administration of United States President Donald Trump to push for his release. They at least wanted the government to ensure that the teenager had access to sufficient food and healthcare.
Kadur claimed that Israeli soldiers had no right to take the teenage boy from them in the first place. He added that throughout his imprisonment, his family, particularly his parents, were living a "horrific and endless nightmare."
Speaking Up for Mohammed Ibrahim
Immediately after his release, Mohammed's family said the boy was taken to a hospital for intravenous therapy and blood work. They said he was severely underweight, pale, and was suffering from scabies that he contracted during his imprisonment, The Guardian reported.
The young boy's case first gained attention after Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old American-Palestinian, was allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers in mid-July. That was when reporters heard news of Mohammed being detained since February.
Kadur expressed gratitude to more than a hundred different organizations, local Florida community members, volunteers, and members of Congress for continuously speaking up for Mohammed and demanding his freedom.
He added that they were also grateful to the countless other people who continued to tell the young boy's story. Kadur thanked the public for bringing his nephew's story to the American people and the world, as per Common Dreams.
