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Twenty-seven Democratic members of Congress are
calling on the U.S. State Department to help secure the release of Mohammed
Zaher Ibrahim, a sixteen-year-old Palestinian-American dual citizen from
Florida who Israeli forces have detained in the occupied West Bank since
February 2025. In an October 21, 2025, letter to Secretary of State Marco
Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, the lawmakers urged
“immediate engagement” with Israeli authorities to ensure the teenager’s
safety and freedom.
Mohammed was fifteen when Israeli soldiers
reportedly raided his home in al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya in the early hours of
the morning, blindfolded and handcuffed him, and took him into custody. He has
since been held under Israel’s military justice system without any public
charge. Israeli officials allege he threw stones at vehicles, but no evidence
has been made public to support that accusation.
As a dual U.S.-Palestinian citizen, Mohammed’s case
has raised alarm among human-rights advocates who argue that Washington has a
duty to intervene when an American is detained abroad—particularly when that
person is a child. Testimonies gathered by Defense for Children
International–Palestine describe harsh prison conditions: overcrowded rooms,
little food, no climate control, and significant weight loss. Mohammed also
reportedly contracted scabies. Lawmakers compared his situation to that of
another Palestinian teenager, Walid Ahmad, who died in custody in March 2025
after suffering malnutrition and neglect.
The 27 Signatories
The appeal was organized by Senators Chris Van
Hollen (D-MD) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and signed entirely by Democrats and
Democratic-aligned independents. The full list includes:
Senate signers: Chris Van Hollen (MD), Jeff Merkley
(OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Peter Welch (VT), and
Edward Markey (MA).
House signers: Betty McCollum (MN), Mark Pocan (WI),
Rashida Tlaib (MI), Ilhan Omar (MN), Cori Bush (MO), Jamaal Bowman (NY),
Ayanna Pressley (MA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Greg Casar (TX), Delia
Ramirez (IL), Summer Lee (PA), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL), André Carson (IN),
Melanie Stansbury (NM), Becca Balint (VT), Raúl Grijalva (AZ), Jonathan
Jackson (IL), Morgan McGarvey (KY), Jan Schakowsky (IL), and Pramila Jayapal
(WA).
The lawmakers’ letter stresses that protecting U.S.
citizens abroad is “the State Department’s highest priority” and requests a
formal response by November 3, 2025. They warn that failing to act could
endanger Mohammed’s life and undermine America’s credibility on human rights.
For now, Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim remains in Israeli
custody, with limited access to family and U.S. consular officials. His
detention has become a rallying point for lawmakers and rights organizations
pressing for greater oversight of U.S. policy toward Israel and stronger
protections for Americans—especially dual nationals—detained overseas.
Democrats call on Rubio to help secure release of Palestinian-American teen held in Israeli prison (The Guardian, 10-22-25)
American Child Details Abuses in Israeli Prison as Democrats Demand His Release (Truth Out, 10-22-25)
US lawmakers urge release of American teen detained in Israel (Anadulo Agency, 10-22-25)
U.S. Lawmakers Call on Israel to Release 16-Year-Old Palestinian American Held Months Without Trial (Democracy Now!, 10-23-25)