Over 100 Rights Groups Urge Release of Palestinian-American Teen Held in Israel

A coalition of over 100 human and civil rights organizations is urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to secure the release of Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian American held in an Israeli prison for six months without adequate medical care, suffering from scabies and significant weight loss. Meanwhile, more than 140 House Democrats have called on the Trump administration to reverse a recent State Department decision to halt all visitor visas from Gaza, including medical-humanitarian visas for children injured in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The lawmakers emphasize the urgent need for lifesaving medical treatment for these children and note that all Palestinians traveling for medical care undergo rigorous vetting by Israeli authorities. The visa suspension followed concerns raised by some congressional offices about organizations allegedly linked to Hamas acquiring these visas. The calls for action highlight tensions between humanitarian concerns and national security considerations amid the ongoing conflict. Rubio's office has faced pressure from various groups to address both the detainee's situation and the visa policy affecting injured Palestinian children.