A Palestinian-American teenager from Florida has been freed after nine months in an Israeli military prison, a case that drew sharp condemnation from US lawmakers and human rights groups. Mohammed Ibrahim, now 16, was arrested in February while visiting family in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The case spotlights Israel's controversial military detention system, which systematically prosecutes children in military courts—the only country in the world to do so, according to a UNICEF report. Ibrahim's release follows a sustained pressure campaign involving US legislators and over 100 civil rights organizations.

A Grueling Ordeal

Family members reported that Ibrahim was taken to a hospital immediately upon his release for treatment. They stated he is severely underweight, pale, and suffering from scabies, having lost a quarter of his body weight during his detention. "We have been living a horrific and endless nightmare," remarked Zeyad Kadur, the teen's uncle, in a statement. "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."

Ibrahim was 15 when Israeli forces arrested him during a night raid on his family's home, accusing him of throwing stones at settlers' vehicles—a charge he denied. In a sworn affidavit, the teenager alleged he only confessed after interrogators threatened him with a beating. His family had almost no direct contact with him throughout the nine-month period, receiving updates only through US embassy officials.

International Pressure and Systemic Concerns

The detention prompted significant outcry in the United States. In October, 27 Democratic members of Congress, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, wrote to the US Secretary of State expressing "grave concern" over Ibrahim's treatment and demanding action to secure his release. The US State Department confirmed it welcomed the news of his freedom and had appointed a dedicated official to his case in September.

Human rights organizations have long criticized the treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli custody. Reports from groups like Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) and Save the Children detail allegations of beatings, insufficient food, and denial of legal counsel. As of September, 350 Palestinian children were held in Israeli military detention, according to DCIP. Critics note that the conviction rate in these military courts is exceedingly high, with one Israeli human rights organization, B'Tselem, finding only one acquittal out of 835 stone-throwing cases against minors over a five-year period.

• February 2025: Mohammed Ibrahim, 15, is arrested during a night raid in the West Bank.
• August 2025: Over 100 US human rights and faith-based groups demand his release.
• September 2025: The US State Department appoints a dedicated official to the case.
• October 2025: 27 Democratic members of Congress press for US intervention.
• November 2025: Ibrahim is released after nine months without charge and hospitalized.

The Israeli military's actions and the conditions of detention for Palestinian minors continue to be a major point of contention for international observers. While Ibrahim is now free, his uncle emphasized the plight of others, stating, "There are hundreds of children like Mohammed, unjustly trapped in an Israeli military prison."