The family of Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American detained by Israeli authorities for nearly six months without trial, is calling for urgent US intervention amid fears for his health and safety.
Mohammed, who was born in Florida, has been held in an Israeli prison since February 16, when heavily armed troops raided his family home in al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities accuse him of throwing rocks at settlers, a charge his family vehemently denies.
“This is a child who wanted to spend his summer working at the family ice cream shop. He’s not a threat. He’s just a child,” said his uncle, Zeyad Kadur.
Mohammed has not been allowed visitation or phone calls, according to his father and uncle. His family has been relying on brief court glimpses and messages from former detainees to piece together his condition.
“Of course, we have fear. When you can’t visit him and you can’t get a phone call from him, what do you know? We don’t know if he’s dead There’s nothing we know,” said Zaher Ibrahim, Mohammed’s father.
According to reports passed to the family, the teenager has lost more than 13 kilograms (28 pounds), over a quarter of his body weight. He is reportedly suffering from scabies, a painful skin condition caused by mites.
In an email from a US consular officer, shared with the family and as seen, the Israel Prison Service confirmed the diagnosis and said he was receiving treatment from a doctor.
“We hope to see him next week or the week after when he heals,” the email read. “We requested an update regarding his healing.”
Despite these assurances, the family says they have no direct communication with the teen and remain uncertain about the quality of his care.
Mohammed is being held at Megiddo Prison, the same facility where 17-year-old Walid Ahmad died in March due to “prolonged malnutrition,” according to the rights group Defense for Children InternationalPalestine (DCI-P). Walid, like Mohammed, had been held without charge and also suffered from scabies.
DCI-P reports that Israel detains around 700 Palestinian children every year, often under military laws that bypass protections guaranteed in international legal standards.
Military courts in the West Bank maintain a near 100-percent conviction rate for Palestinians, while Israeli settlers are tried under civilian law and rarely face punishment for violence against Palestinians.
“Israeli settlers can come to you, shoot you in the head, and walk home to sleep,” said Zaher Ibrahim. “The Palestinian, if he has his own plot of land in front of his house and the settlers come to burn his car and he pushes them away, he’ll be charged.”
Mohammed is also the first cousin of Sayfollah Musallet, who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in July in the West Bank. Despite video evidence and international attention, no arrests have been made 20 days after his killing.
By contrast, Israeli settler Yinon Levi, who was caught on video appearing to fatally shoot Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, was released to house arrest within days.
“There’s not a law, there’s not a country, there’s not anywhere in the world where children are imprisoned and that country calls itself a democracy and doesn’t have visitations or phone calls, or even letter writing to contact the parents,” Kadur said.
Mohammed turned 16 while in jail in March. His family says the US State Department has failed to protect its own citizen, even as the United States sends billions of dollars in military aid to Israel annually.
“It’s obvious we get swept under the rug. And as far as getting help or investigations or some type of justice, we don’t know,” Kadur added. “Eight Americans have been killed in the last 19 months. Where is our place in line? Are we number nine?”
The US embassy confirmed it is following the case but declined to comment publicly.
“Whenever a US citizen is detained abroad, the Department works to provide consular assistance,” a State Department spokesperson said, citing privacy rules. “This may include visiting detained US citizens to ensure they have access to necessary medication or medical attention.”
As of publication, the Israeli military, Ministry of Defence, and Government Press Office had not responded to requests for comment.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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