RAMALLAH, West Bank — Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American boy from Florida, was released from an Israeli prison Thursday after nine months in detention, a case that had drawn the attention of U.S. lawmakers and human rights organizations concerned about his treatment and the broader issue of Palestinian children in Israeli military custody .

Ibrahim, who was 15 when Israeli soldiers arrested him during a night raid on his family's home in the West Bank in February, was freed after accepting a plea deal that included a suspended sentence . His family reported he was taken directly to a hospital for medical evaluation after his release, suffering from severe weight loss, paleness, and a scabies infection contracted during his detention .

Legal Case and Release Agreement

Ibrahim was arrested in February from his family's home in al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, a village north of Ramallah . He was charged with throwing stones at Israeli settlers' vehicles, allegations he initially denied . According to legal documents, he faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted .

The teen's release followed a guilty plea that resulted in a suspended sentence, allowing him to return to his family . He was originally held in Megiddo prison before being transferred to Ofer prison, facilities where other Palestinian detainees have reported harsh conditions .

Health Deterioration in Detention

During his nine months in Israeli custody, Ibrahim's health significantly declined. His family reported he lost approximately a quarter of his body weight and developed scabies, a contagious skin condition that has affected many Palestinian prisoners .

In an October affidavit obtained by Defense for Children International - Palestine, Ibrahim described "extremely insufficient" meals in detention . He reported receiving only three small pieces of bread with a spoonful of yogurt for breakfast, and half a cup of undercooked rice with a single sausage for lunch, with no dinner provided .

Family Ordeal and Advocacy Campaign

Ibrahim's family, who lives in Palm Bay, Florida, had been visiting relatives in the West Bank when he was arrested . They experienced dual tragedies this year—while Mohammed was detained, his 20-year-old cousin, Sayfollah Musallet, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in July .

The family waged an extensive campaign for Ibrahim's release, generating support from over 100 U.S. faith-based, human rights and civil rights organizations . In August, these groups sent a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding action .

Political Pressure and Congressional Involvement

The case attracted significant political attention in the United States. In October, 27 Democratic members of Congress—including senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen—wrote to Secretary of State Rubio expressing "grave concern" over Ibrahim's treatment and demanding the U.S. act to secure his release .

The State Department appointed a dedicated official to handle Ibrahim's case in September and had been tracking it closely throughout his detention . The department provided limited updates to the family, who were barred from direct contact with their son .

Broader Context of Palestinian Detentions

Ibrahim's case highlights broader concerns about Israel's treatment of Palestinian minors. Israel is the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes children in military courts, according to a 2013 UNICEF report .

As of September, approximately 350 Palestinian children between ages 12 and 17 were being held in Israeli military detention, according to Defense for Children International-Palestine . Between 2005 and 2010, Israeli military courts convicted 835 Palestinian minors on stone-throwing charges, with only one acquittal .

In a statement, family friend Zeyad Kadur expressed the family's "immense relief" while acknowledging "countless other Palestinian children remain in similar circumstances" . He noted that Ibrahim's parents finally have their son back after "living a horrific and endless nightmare" for nine months .

The family's advocacy emphasized Ibrahim's American citizenship, with his uncle previously questioning whether a teen with a different name and background would have been detained so long . Despite his release, hundreds of Palestinian children remain in Israeli detention facilities under conditions similar to those Ibrahim described .