US teen Mohammed Ibrahim released from Israeli prison after nine months

After more than nine months of detention, Israeli authorities released Palestinian American teenager Mohammed Ibrahim, who according to some experts embodies Israeli abuses of Palestinians in occupied West Bank.

Following months of pressure from American lawmakers and civil rights organizations, Mohammed’s release on Thursday came as a result.

In the town of al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, near Ramallah, the Florida teenager was detained and taken from his family home in February when he was 15 years old.

He lost weight dramatically as a 16-year-old while being held in an Israeli prison and developed a skin infection.

Mohammed’s uncle Zeyad Kadur stated in a statement that “words can’t describe the incredible relief we have as a family right now” in the presence of his parents.

Before his parents wrapped their arms around him and felt secure, “we couldn’t believe Mohammed was free.”

Mohammed was detained after he denied allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli settlers. Mohammed was blindfolded and beaten during the raid on his family home in February, according to his father Zaher Ibrahim and other family members.

He was denied access to his family while he was imprisoned by Israeli authorities, and he had no visitation rights. Only US officials, who had access to Mohammed, provided updates that his family members were receiving.

His family members pleaded with US President Donald Trump’s administration to press for his release or at least ensure that he had access to safe food and medical care throughout his detention.

In a statement released on Thursday, Kadur claimed that “Israeli soldiers had no right to take Mohammed from us in the first place.”

Our family has been living a horrifying and unending nightmare for more than nine months, especially Mohammed’s mother and father, who are aware that Israeli soldiers are starving and beating their youngest child.

In response to rumors that Mohammed’s health was deteriorating, the pressure to release him grew more recent.

27 US lawmakers wrote in a letter to the Trump administration last month to demand that they press Israel to free him.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a prominent member of the Democratic Party, has also been campaigning to get Mohammed’s release.

The family plans to celebrate Mohammed’s release by celebrating his 16th birthday with his mother Muna serving his favorite meal, according to the statement from Thursday. It thanked those who pushed for his release.