US lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to take immediate action to secure the release of 16-year-old Palestinian American Mohammed Ibrahim, who has been held in Israeli detention centers for eight months. A letter signed by 27 members of Congress, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Chris Von Hollen, calls on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee to engage directly with the Israeli government to secure his swift release.
Mohammed's detention has raised concerns over harsh conditions faced by Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, including abusive treatment, poor living conditions, and a lack of access to justice. His family has reported that he has suffered weight loss, deteriorating health, and signs of torture as court hearings continue to be postponed.
Analysts say the case highlights a broader pattern of apathy towards Palestinian Americans by the US government, which is quick to respond to instances of violence or abuse against Israeli Americans but slow to act in cases involving Palestinians with US citizenship. "The contrast has been made clear: The US government simply does not care about Palestinians with US citizenship who are killed or unjustly detained by Israel," said Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel programme at the Arab Center Washington DC.
Mohammed's cousin Sayfollah Musallet was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, but no arrests have been made. The Trump administration has been accused of complicity in such cases, with Munayyer stating that "our government is not unaware of these cases... In many cases where Palestinian Americans have been killed, the government does nothing."
Human rights groups are calling for decisive action by the US government to secure Mohammed's release and address the broader human rights abuses faced by Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) stated that "the abuse and imprisonment of an American teenager by any other foreign power should be met with outrage and decisive action by our government."
Mohammed's detention has raised concerns over harsh conditions faced by Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, including abusive treatment, poor living conditions, and a lack of access to justice. His family has reported that he has suffered weight loss, deteriorating health, and signs of torture as court hearings continue to be postponed.
Analysts say the case highlights a broader pattern of apathy towards Palestinian Americans by the US government, which is quick to respond to instances of violence or abuse against Israeli Americans but slow to act in cases involving Palestinians with US citizenship. "The contrast has been made clear: The US government simply does not care about Palestinians with US citizenship who are killed or unjustly detained by Israel," said Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel programme at the Arab Center Washington DC.
Mohammed's cousin Sayfollah Musallet was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, but no arrests have been made. The Trump administration has been accused of complicity in such cases, with Munayyer stating that "our government is not unaware of these cases... In many cases where Palestinian Americans have been killed, the government does nothing."
Human rights groups are calling for decisive action by the US government to secure Mohammed's release and address the broader human rights abuses faced by Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) stated that "the abuse and imprisonment of an American teenager by any other foreign power should be met with outrage and decisive action by our government."
, a 16-yr-old kid held in Israeli detention centers for 8 months? That's just wrong, USA needs to step up & do something 
. Palestinian Americans deserve the same rights as everyone else, no exceptions! 
I'm so frustrated with this situation 
. It's like the US gov is just ignoring these Palestinian Americans who are being held in Israeli prisons and it's not right 
. Eight months is a looong time to be stuck in detention 
. Can't they at least try to contact the Israelis and get Mohammed out ASAP? 
. But what's going on with all these other Palestinian Americans who have been killed or beaten by Israeli settlers and nothing happens? 
It's just not right to be treated unfairly because of where you're from 
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and the US gov't needs to step in ASAP 
cuz 8 months is way too long for a kid 
and it's not just about him, it's about all the palestinians who are being treated unfairly 
by israel 
8 months in detention, he's losin weight and health... poor guy needs help ASAP 
Anyway, back to the news... I mean, come on US lawmakers, what took you guys so long to act? 8 months is way too long for a kid to be held in Israeli detention centers under harsh conditions 
.
.
what i dont get is why they rnt takin action when this happens 2 israeli americans but as soon as its palestinian americans, they get all comfy & do nothin 
It's not right that he's having to deal with all these harsh conditions in prison. His family says he's lost weight and is getting sick because of it, and yet nobody seems to care... except the Congress members who are trying to do something about it. 
. i'm not saying they're doing a bad job or anything, but its just that us gov needs to step up and do more to protect americans who are getting mistreated in other countries 
. We gotta do somethin 2 help Mohammed & address these human rights abuses 
.
. The fact that the US gov is only now getting involved shows us how neglected these Palestinian Americans are compared to Israelis living in the States 
. I wish they'd prioritize these kinds of cases over just reacting to Israeli-American incidents