Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American teenager, is expected to make a court appearance in Israel later this week after spending nine months in detention without any charges against him.
The 16-year-old, who lives in Florida, was arrested in February during a family holiday in the Israeli-occupied West Bank for allegedly throwing stones at Jewish settlers—a claim he vehemently denies.
In response to his detention, 27 Democratic members of the US Congress have reached out to the Trump administration, urging them to press Israel for Muhammad’s release.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office indicated that Mohammed's alleged actions constituted a serious potentially deadly crime and assured that the court proceeding is in accordance with due process.
However, Mohammed's family disputes this characterization. His father, Zahar Ibrahim, describes him as a sweet boy, deeply into his sports and hobbies, and expresses heartache at being unable to communicate with his son for nearly a year. He is just a regular fun kid that loves and respects anybody, Zahar explains.
Mohammed was taken from his family's vacation home in al-Mazraa al-Sharqiya during a night-time raid by Israeli soldiers. His father states he has received only court document updates, alleging that his son was coerced into confession through physical abuse.
As the case garners attention due to Mohammed being an American citizen, lawmakers in the US have pointed out the stark absence of response from the Trump administration compared to how it might react in similar cases worldwide.
Senator Chris Van Hollen commented on the situation as a great dereliction of duty, noting that approximately 350 Palestinians, including children, are being held in similar conditions across Israel. Many have been subjected to mistreatment and abuse, raising significant human rights concerns.
As the court date approaches, hope lingers for Mohammed’s family in Florida, who continues to wait for justice amid a backdrop of political complexity and humanitarian issues.
