This story should alarm every single American who values our constitutional rights, the basic element of democracy and defending your fellow American who is unfairly treated in a foreign country that claimed to be our closest ally. It is the sad story of Muhammad Ibrahim, a 16 y/o Palestinian American held in Israel without trial since last February.

 

Journalist Ali Harb of Aljazeera said, "Israeli authorities have been detaining an American teenager for nearly six months without trial for allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, a claim the 16-year-old’s family denies while expressing concern for his deteriorating health. Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American who was born in Florida, has been completely cut off from his family since his arrest in February without visitation or telephone rights."

 

 

I fail to understand why no one care in America. The lack of concern and lack of humanity of what happening to Muhammad by public officials and media outlet is unbelievable. It is obvious America has two standards when it comes to Americans in distress abroad, One for Muslims and Arab, and one for ALL OTHERS.

 

Who can forget when VP Harris tweeted back in August, 2022, when the Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine year in prisoner after she was found guilty of drug charges? The VP then said Griner should be released immediately, and tweeted then, "@POTUS and I, and our entire Administration, are working every day to reunite Brittney with loved ones who miss each of them dearly." Griner was later released in a prisoner exchange with Russia.

 

What about Mohammad Ibrahim? He did not even commit a crime! Muhammad has a family who loved him, care about them, and want them back home ASAP. According to Aljazeera,  Zaher Ibrahim, the jailed teenager’s father, said  that the family has received reports that Mohammed is losing weight drastically and suffering from a skin infection. Ibrahim said he is concerned about his son’s wellbeing.

 

 

Shamefully, Neither the Trump Administration nor the US embassy in Jerusalem have  expressed the same sentiment or spoke in the same language and tune for Muhammad Ibrahim, who is being held by the IDF Mickey Mouse charges of throwing a stone at the occupation army who invaded his hometown village in the occupied West Bank. Few weeks ago Israeli settlers beat his cousin Sayfollah Musallet (US citizen) to death.

 

Last July, the IDF said, they made six arrests were made in connection with the murder of Ibrahim's cousin, which included two settlers and an IDF reservist. According to the IDF the perpetrators were released after questioning. This happened after an unusual public statement by US ambassador Mike Huckabee, who called the murder a "terrorist act."

 

I'll never forget when in 1994 President Bill Clinton then almost declared war on Singapore. That was after a court in Singapore sentenced an American teenager, Michael Fay to be lashed six times with a cane for violating the Vandalism Act, which at that time caused a temporary strain in relations between Singapore and the United States. Fay of Dayton, Ohio was arrested for stealing road signs and vandalizing 18 cars in September 1993.

 

Even thought  Fay pled guilty then, still, some US news outlets launched scathing attacks on Singapore's judicial system for what they considered an "archaic punishment", while others turned the issue into one of Singapore asserting "Asian values" towards "western decadence". According to the wire service, the New York Times, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times ran editorials and op-eds condemning the punishment. USA Today reported that the caning involved "bits of flesh flying with each stroke.

 

Sadly, no one cares in America when it involve a Muslim or an Arab American! What I fail to understand is the lack of concern and lack of humanity what happening to Muhammad by public officials and media outlets. Israel has shows how ungrateful it is. It is unbelievable. The US provides Israel with $ 10 million dollars in military and economic aid every day the sun rises,  as well as diplomatic backing at the United Nations – Can't US officials call a shot every once in a while?

 

Israel is targeting of Palestinian Americans

 

Since 2022, nine Americans have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, including five since October 2023. Among the most recent cases is Sayfollah Musallet, 20, from Florida . Others include Mohammad Khdour, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, Amer Rabee, Shireen Abu Akleh, and Omar Assad, a 78-year-old who died after being gagged and handcuffed by Israeli soldiers. The only victim Americans might remember was Shireen Abu Aklah, because she a well know Al Jazeera journalist. 

 

Multiple Palestinian Americans have also been detained or subjected to travel restrictions and surveillance.  Samaher Esmail, a 46-year-old from New Orleans, was arrested in Beit Lahm for alleged incitement on social media. Families report minimal assistance from US authorities.

 

In November 2018, US ambassador then Friedman demanded the immediate release of a dual Palestinian-U.S. citizen held by the Palestinian Authority who was being charged with helping to sell a Palestinian-owned home to an Israeli citizen. He tweeted then that his arrest is an " antithetical" to American values, whatever the term he used means.

 

The subject Isaam Akel who is a real state dealer was arrested for selling a property in East Jerusalem without the consent of his business partners and the P.A. Akel has received $25,000 dollars in bribe for his service.

 

Palestinian law bars selling land to "a hostile state or any of its citizens" and requires the permission of the PA for all land sales in East Jerusalem. Reason? The sale of land in the Israeli-occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, to Israeli citizens, is illegal. The Palestinians see the occupied city as the capital of their future state. Shamefully,  ambassador Friedman who lives in Jerusalem and uses his social media platform to attack Israel's critics, never condemned the murder of any US citizens killed by Israeli or called for the  release of the American teen ager Muhammad Ibrahim. 

 

Israel has no solid evidence that Muhammad Ibrahim has committed any crime. Additionally, if he was guilty of anything, why has Israel not put him on trial since his arrest in last February. Basic element of democracy requires, Israel either charge or release Muhammad Ibrahim immediately.

 

Why should Americans care?

 

* Muhammad Ibrahim is an American citizen.

* He is a minor by international standard.

* Israel has no solid evidence against him.

* It would discourage Israel from it again. 

 

I urge readers to be a voice for Muhammad: Be Je Suis Muhammad regardless of his faith or ethnicity.

 

* Contact the @WhiteHouse and @SecRubio and urge them to keep their promise by doing everything they can to support American hostages and wrongfully detained Americans.

 

 * To call upon Israeli officials in the US (@IsraelinUSA, @IsraelinUN) and tell that's not the way to treat a minor and to free Muhammad Ibrahim unconditionally.

 

Mahmoud El-Youseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email: elyousseph6@yahoo.com