Family of Palestinian-American teen arrested during West Bank visit says condition worsening after 8 months

The family of a Palestinian-American teenager arrested in February by the IDF on allegations that he threw stones during a family visit to the West Bank from Florida says his condition has significantly deteriorated due to poor conditions in an Israeli prison, where he has been held for nearly eight months.

The family of 16-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim publishes testimony from a lawyer who recently visited him at Ofer Prison in the West Bank, where she said she learned that the boy had contracted scabies and had lost roughly 25 pounds (11 kilograms) due to insufficient food for inmates.

US Rep. Kathy Castor says Ibrahim has not received a trial date or even been formally charged.

The State Department has said it is aware of the teen’s case and is providing consular services but has declined to comment further.

The Israel Prison Service does not immediately respond to a request for comment but has long dismissed mounting allegations of abuse of Palestinian inmates.

The IDF also doesn’t immediately comment on the reasons for Ibrahim’s arrest.

On Tuesday, 20 Democratic lawmakers penned a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urging them to intervene on Ibrahim’s behalf.

“As you know, Palestinians are subject to military law in the West Bank and are tried in military courts where there have been well-documented concerns about Palestinians not receiving fair due process,” states the letter organized by Sen. Chris Van Hollen

“Mohammed is also the first cousin of Saifullah Kamel Musallet, the 20-year-old U.S. citizen who was reportedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers in July 2025. To date, no one has been arrested concerning his killing,” it adds, requesting a response by November 3.