American Teen Held in Israeli Prison Sparks Congressional Outcry

Palestinian-American Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim, a 16-year-old, was kidnapped by Israelis and imprisoned without trial for over six months. Millions of Americans around the world are demanding justice and his immediate release.

American Teen Held in Israeli Prison Sparks Congressional Outcry

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.com | October 31, 2025

JERUSALEM – The prolonged detention of a 16-year-old Palestinian-American from Florida is drawing sharp criticism from US lawmakers demanding his immediate release.

Mohammed Ibrahim has been held in an Israeli prison for over eight months without trial after he was accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The case has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with allegations of coerced confession and mistreatment fueling calls for intervention from Washington.

Ibrahim’s legal team alleges he confessed to the charges under duress, citing physical abuse and threats during his detention.

While the Israel Prison Service declined to comment on the specifics of Ibrahim’s case, citing privacy concerns, they maintain that their operations adhere to legal standards and are subject to oversight.

However, the lack of transparency has only intensified concerns among US officials and human rights advocates.

The family’s ordeal has been compounded by the recent death of Ibrahim’s cousin, 20-year-old American Said Musallet, who was killed by Israeli settlers.

The tragedy has added urgency to the calls for Ibrahim’s release, with his father, Zaher Ibrahim, pleading for US intervention.

“It’s been hell,” Zaher Ibrahim said. “We never anticipated that this ordeal would stretch on for eight months.”

He expressed frustration with the perceived slow response from US authorities, stating, “The media and lawmakers’ pressure is what has brought us to this point.”

“Without that pressure, I believe they would have shown little concern.”

The US State Department has confirmed its active involvement in the case, stating that the ambassador and embassy staff in Jerusalem are deeply engaged and in communication with the Israeli government.

But the lack of concrete progress has fueled growing impatience.

This month, a bipartisan group of 27 US senators and representatives sent a letter urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Mike Huckabee to expedite Ibrahim’s release, citing concerns about his treatment in Israeli custody.

The letter underscores the escalating pressure on the Biden administration to secure Ibrahim’s freedom.

The Defense for Children International – Palestine, which visited Ibrahim in prison, reported that he has lost significant weight and is suffering from scabies.

During a recent court appearance, he complained of stomach pain and headaches, claims that his father says were dismissed by a guard as lies.

The emotional toll on the family is immense.

Zaher Ibrahim recounted the heartbreak of seeing his son, in shackles, attempting to wave to his family, only to have a guard slap his hand away.

“It’s just heartbreaking,” he said. “After they take him away, we live in fear of what might happen next.”

With the next court hearing scheduled for Nov. 9, the pressure is mounting on both the US and Israeli governments to find a resolution to the increasingly contentious case.

The fate of Mohammed Ibrahim hangs in the balance, underscoring the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the rights of American citizens abroad.