Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American citizen from Florida, is scheduled to appear in an Israeli court this week after being held for nine months without charges.
Ibrahim was arrested in February at the age of 15 during a family holiday in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities allege he threw stones at Jewish settlers, an accusation Ibrahim denies.
Twenty-seven Democratic US Senators and House members submitted a letter to the US State Department last month, urging the Trump administration to exert pressure on Israel for Ibrahim's release.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement asserting that Ibrahim committed a "serious potentially deadly crime" and that the court proceedings are adhering to due process.
Zahar Ibrahim, Mohammed's father, disputes the Israeli government's account. He states that his son was arrested in a nighttime raid by Israeli soldiers at their holiday home in the Palestinian village of al-Mazraa al-Sharqiya. Mr. Ibrahim reports he has not had contact with his son since February and has learned details of his detention through court documents. According to Mr. Ibrahim, these documents indicate Mohammed was "tied up and blindfolded" and transported in a jeep. Mr. Ibrahim further alleges his son confessed to stone-throwing under duress, specifically due to physical mistreatment by soldiers. The Israeli Prime Minister's office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the claims of detention without charge or the allegations of physical mistreatment.
The US Embassy has assigned a caseworker who has visited Mohammed in prison. The caseworker reportedly informed Mr. Ibrahim that his son had experienced significant weight loss and was not in good health. A US State Department spokesperson stated the department is "tracking Mr Ibrahim's case closely and working with the government of Israel on this case." US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and embassy staff in Jerusalem are also reportedly involved.