Imagine being 16, separated from your family for over six months, and facing dire health conditions in prison. That’s the reality for Palestinian American Mohammed Ibrahim, held by Israeli authorities. A coalition of over 100 U.S. groups is demanding his immediate release. What will it take to bring him home?

A formidable coalition of over one hundred U.S. advocacy groups has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate release of 16-year-old Palestinian American Mohammed Ibrahim from an Israeli prison. This collective outcry underscores grave concerns regarding his deteriorating health, with reports indicating he is being denied adequate food and essential medical care, a situation exacerbated by his family being barred from contact for over six months.

The coalition has directly implored Secretary of State Marco Rubio to intervene, labeling Mohammed’s imprisonment as “unjust” and highlighting its location in Israel’s Ofer prison, a facility widely documented for its alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians, including minors. The groups emphasize the critical need for U.S. diplomatic action to secure the child’s freedom and ensure his safety.

Alarming details regarding Mohammed’s health were conveyed in a letter sent to Secretary Rubio. Attorneys representing the teenager assert that he is suffering from scabies and has not received any necessary medication. Furthermore, he has reportedly lost more than 30 pounds due to what the groups describe as Israel’s systematic denial of food and critical medical treatment, raising serious questions about his welfare in detention.

The letter, a joint effort from a diverse array of faith-based, human rights, and civil rights organizations, articulates a clear demand: the U.S. Department of State must act decisively to secure Mohammed Ibrahim’s prompt release. It stresses the profound urgency of his condition, emphasizing the imperative to protect U.S. citizens, especially children, who find themselves in similar precarious situations abroad.

Among the 102 signatories are prominent organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Democratic Socialists of America, and Jewish Voice for Peace. The collective power of these U.S. advocacy groups amplifies the call for international attention and a swift resolution to Mohammed’s detention, representing a broad spectrum of American civil society.

The circumstances surrounding Mohammed Ibrahim’s arrest in the occupied West Bank are equally distressing. Israeli authorities apprehended him in the middle of the night last September, forcibly entering his family’s home. He was subsequently blindfolded, had his hands tied, and has since been held without trial in an Israeli prison, a practice often criticized by human rights observers.

Adding to the family’s anguish, Israeli authorities have prevented Mohammed from any contact with his loved ones, denying both visits and phone calls. He stands accused of throwing rocks, an allegation his family vehemently denies, further complicating the legal and human rights aspects of his ongoing imprisonment within the Ofer prison system.

This case illuminates broader issues surrounding the detention of Palestinian minors by Israeli forces, drawing international scrutiny to legal processes and humanitarian standards. The coalition’s actions are a direct challenge to the conditions of Mohammed’s confinement and a plea for immediate intervention to safeguard his life and rights as a Palestinian American child, supported by widespread U.S. advocacy.