More than 100 groups demand release of Palestinian-American teenager in Israeli prison

More than 100 diverse faith-based, civil rights and human rights organisations sent a joint letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding action to secure the safe release of a 16-year-old Palestinian-American citizen from Florida detained without trial in a notorious Israeli prison.

The letter to Rubio, dated 26 August 2025, said the teenager, Mohammed Ibrahim, is in poor health and his detention in an Israeli prison was a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits “the deportation of protected persons from an Occupied Territory to the territory of the Occupying Power”.

“Mohammed’s health is dire and requires your immediate action to ensure Mohammed is free, safe, and with his parents - his life is on the line," the letter reads. 

Middle East Eye reported last week that, according to Mohammed's father, Zaher, the teenager had lost a quarter of his body weight and developed scabies while in prison. US embassy staff confirmed the weight loss to Mohammed's father. 

The letter says Mohammed has been denied medical treatment in Ofer prison, which is notorious for being a "known place of abuse of Palestinian children", according to his attorneys.

The letter was signed by 102 signatories, including the Center for Constitutional Rights; the Arab American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; CODEPINK; Democratic Socialists of America; California/Nevada United Methodist Church Palestine Task Force; Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Pax Christi USA; and Veterans for Peace.

'Danger is real'

The Florida chapter of the civil rights and advocacy organisation, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), held a press conference in Tampa on Tuesday to speak about the letter and called on Florida officials and the State Department to fulfil their responsibility to secure his release.

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Mohammed's cousin, Zeyad Kadur, spoke at the press conference, along with coalition partners such as Reverend Andy Oliver from Allendale United Methodist Church, Samuel Ronen from The Progressive Jewish Coalition of Tampa Bay, and Matt Levine from the Tampa Democratic Socialists of America, among others. 

Another cousin of Mohammed's, Sayfollah Musallet, also a US citizen, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank in July this year.

Cair-Florida deputy executive director, Hiba Rahim, told MEE on Wednesday that all the organisations were worried about the danger that the ongoing detention in Israel posed to Mohammed’s life.

“When more than 100 organisations come together, it’s because the danger is real and the harm is undeniable,” she said.

“This past April, a 17-year-old boy died in one of the very prisons where Mohammed was being held for the majority of his detention. Israel has a notorious record of abusing imprisoned children, and we are deeply concerned that Mohammed’s case could end in tragedy if urgent action is not taken."

'Life on the line'

Mohammed’s father, Zaher, who is currently in Silwad in the occupied West Bank fighting to secure his son’s release, told MEE on Tuesday that he was moved by the show of solidarity in Florida for his son.

“The truth is, it is a beautiful thing. It was a blessing to see all these people from different religions and with different skin colours and backgrounds coming together, like one heart, caring for each other.

“It’s also something good for the future. If something else happens somewhere else, no matter what the race or religion, it might be 200 or 300 organisations. It’s something good to build going forward and bring people together, and show we’re all one at the end. It’s a good thing. I appreciate everything everybody’s doing”.

'When more than 100 organisations come together, it’s because the danger is real and the harm is undeniable'

- Hiba Rahim, Cair-Florida

Mohammed was taken into custody in the middle of the night by Israeli authorities in February when he was just 15, accused of throwing rocks.

He was handcuffed, blindfolded and taken to the Moscovia detention centre in Jerusalem. After a few weeks, in mid-March, he was taken to Megiddo prison in Israel, and is now at the notorious Ofer prison in Israel, where he was moved to in mid-August.

Ibrahim had been on holiday in the occupied West Bank with his family at the time. His family have not been able to see or speak to him since he was detained, except through a monitor during court hearings.

Despite Zaher meeting with the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and contacting his elected representatives in Florida, the US government is not known to have intervened to secure Mohammed’s release.

His case has been beset by delays in the Israeli court system, and although a decision was supposed to be made on Sunday, an outcome is still pending.

The letter sent to Rubio stressed that Mohammed's "life is on the line" and that the responsibility of the US government is to "protect all American children, including Palestinian-Americans".

“We are demanding that the US Department of State work to secure the immediate release of Mohammed Ibrahim from Israeli prison and protect US citizens, particularly children.”