Teen's Future on the Line as Israeli Military Court Weighs Stone-Throwing Charges

An Israeli military court is considering the fate of Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old U.S. citizen who was arrested in February for allegedly throwing stones in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The court's decision will have significant implications for the teenager's future, with the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence hanging in the balance. According to court documents, Mohammed Ibrahim was arrested by Israeli soldiers on February 14, 2025, after being accused of participating in stone-throwing incidents in the West Bank village of Al-Mazraa Al-Sharqiya. The teenager, who is Palestinian-American, has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, with his family claiming that he was unfairly targeted by Israeli authorities. "I was shocked and scared when the soldiers came to our house," Mohammed Ibrahim's mother, Muna Ibrahim, said in an interview. "My son is a good kid, and he would never do anything to harm anyone. We are worried about the consequences of this case and the impact it will have on our family's life." The case has drawn attention from human rights groups and U.S. officials, who have expressed concerns about the treatment of Palestinian-American minors in Israeli military courts. "The Israeli military court system is notoriously opaque and often biased against Palestinian defendants," said Sarah Leah Whitson, a human rights lawyer who has been following the case. "We are urging the court to ensure that Mohammed Ibrahim receives a fair trial and is treated in accordance with international human rights standards." Mohammed Ibrahim's family has been living in the West Bank village of Al-Mazraa Al-Sharqiya for several years, splitting their time between there and their home in the Tampa area. The family's decision to live in the West Bank was motivated by a desire to connect with their Palestinian heritage and to experience life in the region. The case has also raised questions about the Israeli military's use of force against Palestinian minors. According to a report by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, Palestinian minors are disproportionately affected by the Israeli military's use of force, with many facing arrest, detention, and trial in military courts. The Israeli military court is expected to deliver its verdict in the coming weeks, with the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence hanging in the balance. The case has sparked widespread concern among human rights groups and U.S. officials, who are urging the court to ensure that Mohammed Ibrahim receives a fair trial and is treated in accordance with international human rights standards.