Daijiworld Media Network – Palestine
Palestine, Nov 26: A 16-year-old Palestinian-American boy from Florida, detained in Israel for the past nine months without formal charges, is expected to appear in court later this week, intensifying diplomatic pressure and growing concern in the United States.
Mohammed Ibrahim, arrested in February while vacationing with his family in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, stands accused of throwing stones at Israeli settlers — an allegation he firmly denies. He was 15 at the time of his arrest.
His father, Zahar Ibrahim, who runs an ice-cream business in Florida, says his son was picked up during a midnight raid at their holiday home in al-Mazraa al-Sharqiya, tied up, blindfolded, and taken away by soldiers. “He’s a real sweet boy — into sports, PlayStation and school. Asking for trouble is not him,” he says, fighting back tears. The family alleges the teenager was beaten and forced into confessing.
Court documents, Mr Ibrahim says, detail that Mohammed was dragged onto a jeep floor after being restrained. Since the arrest, the father has not been allowed to see or speak to his son.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, claims the teenager committed “a serious, potentially deadly crime” and insists that due legal process is being followed. There has been no response from Israeli authorities to allegations of custodial assault or prolonged detention without charge.
Mohammed, held at Ofer Prison — a facility that also houses adults convicted of serious offences — has reportedly lost considerable weight, according to a case worker from the US Embassy who visited him.
His case has gained traction in Washington, where 27 Democratic lawmakers recently urged the US State Department to push harder for his release. Senator Chris Van Hollen termed the situation a “dereliction of duty,” criticising the Trump administration’s reluctance to press Israel. “If this were any other country, you’d be seeing a much bigger effort,” he said.
Mohammed’s father says his son’s American citizenship has done little to help. “What’s lucky about an American passport?” he asks. “The US isn’t doing anything.”
A State Department spokesperson said the case is being “closely tracked,” while Ambassador Mike Huckabee and embassy officials in Jerusalem are “deeply involved,” adding they could not comment further due to privacy concerns.
While Mohammed’s case has captured attention because of his citizenship, human rights groups note that he is one of around 350 Palestinian minors currently held in Israeli prisons — many without charges — with several reporting abuse and torture.
For now, Mohammed’s father waits alone in the family’s holiday home, clinging to hope as political pressure mounts. “All I want is my child back,” he says quietly, glancing at the empty room around him.