By Trendsetter Tribune 
A group of 15 members of Congress, led by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), sent a formal letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, February 16, 2026, demanding accountability for the treatment of Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American citizen from Florida who spent nine months in Israeli military detention.
The letter highlights allegations of systematic physical and psychological abuse, including starvation and medical neglect, that left the teenager severely malnourished and ill upon his release in late November 2025.
The Case of Mohammed Ibrahim
Mohammed was 15 years old when he was arrested by Israeli soldiers during a 3:00 AM raid on his family’s home in the West Bank in February 2025.
- The Charges: He was accused of throwing stones at moving vehicles. He was released on November 27, 2025, after a guilty plea and a suspended sentence, but was taken directly to a hospital.+1
- Health Decline: During his nine-month detention, Ibrahim lost one-third of his body weight and contracted a severe scabies infection.
- Abuse Allegations: Mohammed reported to U.S. consular officers that he and other minors in his cell were beaten, pepper-sprayed in the face, and denied adequate food. One cellmate, 17-year-old Walid Ahmad, died in custody; an autopsy reportedly found signs of starvation and blunt force trauma.+1
Lawmakers’ Demands to the State Department
The bicameral letter expresses “grave concern” that a U.S. citizen was subjected to such conditions and questions whether the State Department is prioritizing the safety of Americans abroad.
Lawmakers posed three specific questions to Secretary Rubio:
- Has the State Department met with Mohammed since his release to hear his account directly?
- Has Washington formally asked the Israeli government to conduct an impartial investigation into the abuse of Ibrahim and his fellow minor detainees?
- Have any Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) or Israel Prison Service (IPS) personnel been held accountable or punished for this treatment?
The lawmakers noted that a previous response from the State Department in December 2025 was “unsatisfactory,” as it merely acknowledged Ibrahim’s release without addressing the abuse allegations.
Signatories of the February 16 Letter
The coalition of 15 lawmakers includes prominent figures from both the Senate and the House.
| Chamber | Key Signatories |
| U.S. Senate | Peter Welch (Lead), Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, Brian Schatz, Ron Wyden. |
| U.S. House | Kathy Castor (Lead), Rashida Tlaib, Maxwell Frost, Jerry Nadler, Jim McGovern, Greg Casar, Maxine Dexter, Don Beyer. |
Israeli Government & State Dept. Response
The Israeli Embassy in Washington has previously defended the detention, claiming Ibrahim was under “weekly BMI monitoring” and received medical care. They described the rock-throwing allegations as serious “security offenses.”
However, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen characterized the Embassy’s defense as “dealing in half-truths,” noting that the teenager’s confession was likely obtained under the threat of violence without a legal guardian present. The State Department has not yet issued a public response to the new letter.