Duckworth Joins Van Hollen, Merkley, Castor, Frost, Colleagues in Pressing Trump Administration on Israeli Detention of 16-year-old U.S. Citizen

Duckworth Joins Van Hollen, Merkley, Castor, Frost, Colleagues in Pressing Trump Administration on Israeli Detention of 16-year-old U.S. Citizen

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) and Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10) in pressing the Trump Administration on the detention of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim, a 16-year-old American citizen who has been held in Israel's custody without trial since February 16, 2025.

"We write with grave concern regarding the detention without trial of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim. Mohammed is a U.S. citizen from Florida who was reportedly blindfolded, handcuffed, and arrested on February 16th, 2025 when Israeli forces reportedly entered his family home in al-Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya at 3 a.m.," the lawmakers wrote. "He was detained when he was 15 years old and turned 16 in prison. He has been accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers, but no evidence has been publicly provided to support this allegation."

They continue, "While U.S. embassy officials have been able to conduct visits, Mohammed has been denied all other contact with the outside world and his family has not been able to contact him since his detention. Senators Van Hollen and Merkley met with Mohammed's family in the West Bank, and Rep. Castor, Rep. Frost, and other members also met with his family separately. His family has received updates from U.S. embassy staff and former detainees who described his alarming weight loss, deteriorating health, and signs of torture as his court hearings continue to be routinely postponed. His family reports that Mohammed has lost nearly a quarter of his body weight and contracted scabies after being detained in Megiddo Prison and now in Ofer Prison."

"We are concerned about reports of the mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities and prisons, including both of the prisons that have held Mohammed. The mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli prisons was recently corroborated in Israel's September 7th Supreme Court ruling, which stated the Israeli government has deprived Palestinian detainees of even a minimum subsistence diet and ordered authorities to increase the amount and quality of food served to inmates," they go on to note.

"As we have been told repeatedly, 'the Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad.' We share that view and urge you to fulfill this responsibility by engaging the Israeli government directly to secure the swift release of this American boy. We request a response to this letter by November 3^rd, including what efforts you have made on Mohammed's case," the lawmakers conclude.

In addition to Duckworth, Van Hollen and Merkley, the letter was co-signed by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

In addition to Castor and Frost, the letter was co-signed in the House by U.S. Representatives Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Gregorio Casar (D-TX-35), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03).

A copy of the letter is available below and on Senator Duckworth's website.

Dear Secretary Rubio and Ambassador Huckabee,

We write with grave concern regarding the detention without trial of Mohammed Zaher Ibrahim. Mohammed is a U.S. citizen from Florida who was reportedly blindfolded, handcuffed, and arrested on February 16th, 2025 when Israeli forces reportedly entered his family home in al-Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya at 3 a.m. He was detained when he was 15 years old and turned 16 in prison. He has been accused of throwing rocks at Israeli settlers, but no evidence has been publicly provided to support this allegation. 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. 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.

While U.S. embassy officials have been able to conduct visits, Mohammed has been denied all other contact with the outside world and his family has not been able to contact him since his detention. Senators Van Hollen and Merkley met with Mohammed's family in the West Bank, and Rep. Castor, Rep. Frost, and other members also met with his family separately. His family has received updates from U.S. embassy staff and former detainees who described his alarming weight loss, deteriorating health, and signs of torture as his court hearings continue to be routinely postponed. His family reports that Mohammed has lost nearly a quarter of his body weight and contracted scabies after being detained in Megiddo Prison and now in Ofer Prison.

We are concerned about reports of the mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities and prisons, including both of the prisons that have held Mohammed. The mistreatment of Palestinians in Israeli prisons was recently corroborated in Israel's September 7th Supreme Court ruling, which stated the Israeli government has deprived Palestinian detainees of even a minimum subsistence diet and ordered authorities to increase the amount and quality of food served to inmates.

In a disturbingly similar case, and underscoring our urgency concerning Mohammed's continued pre-trial detention, 17-year-old Palestinian Walid Ahmad collapsed and died in Megiddo Prison on March 22nd, 2025 after also being detained for six months without charges or trial for allegedly throwing rocks. Walid's post-mortem examination indicates that he died from a combination of abuse and mistreatment that led to him collapsing and hitting his head, including extreme malnutrition, torture, scabies, and the denial of medical intervention. It is the responsibility of the U.S. government to ensure that this recent tragedy does not repeat itself with Mohammed.

As we have been told repeatedly, "the Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad." We share that view and urge you to fulfill this responsibility by engaging the Israeli government directly to secure the swift release of this American boy.

We request a response to this letter by November 3^rd, including what efforts you have made on Mohammed's case.

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