The Israeli embassy in Washington has intensified its lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, circulating a document defending the nine-month military imprisonment of a 16-year-old American citizen from Florida. The case of Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American teenager, has drawn significant criticism from US lawmakers and human rights organisations.
Congressional Pressure Mounts
Twenty-seven Democratic lawmakers expressed grave concern about Ibrahim's treatment in a letter sent last month to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the US ambassador to Israel. The diplomatic communication from the Israeli embassy appears to be a direct response to this mounting political pressure.
The embassy's letter, obtained by the Guardian, outlines Israel's allegations against Ibrahim, who faces two counts of throwing objects at moving vehicles. However, the document omits crucial details about his deteriorating health and limited access to legal representation.
Contested Confession and Medical Concerns
While the embassy letter cites Ibrahim's confession during interrogation on 16 February, it fails to mention the teenager's subsequent sworn affidavit alleging coercion. "The interrogator threatened that if I did not comply, he would instruct the soldiers to beat me. Out of sheer fear, I ultimately confessed," Ibrahim wrote.
Medical records reveal concerning details about Ibrahim's health during detention. Although the embassy claims he received regular BMI monitoring and medical examinations, a prison medical report from 22 April recorded him with "low BMI" after losing approximately a quarter of his body weight.
The family reports having no direct contact with Ibrahim since his detention began, while the embassy letter notes his father attended two court hearings and a US consular official visited on 4 August.
Legal Proceedings and International Scrutiny
Ibrahim's case has experienced multiple delays, with his most recent hearing postponed from 9 November to mid-December. The embassy and family offer conflicting explanations for these delays, with Israeli officials claiming the defence isn't engaging properly, while the family maintains their new lawyer needs time to review nine months of documentation.
Israel remains the only country worldwide that systematically prosecutes children in military courts, according to a 2013 Unicef report. This context adds significance to Ibrahim's case, particularly given statistics showing 99.74% conviction rates in Israeli military courts as reported in 2011.
The State Department has appointed a dedicated official to handle Ibrahim's case and continues to work with the Israeli government on the matter. Meanwhile, more than 100 US human rights, faith-based and civil rights organisations have demanded Ibrahim's immediate release, keeping this controversial case in the international spotlight.
