Join on WhatsApp 
Join on Telegram Rabat — Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian who was cruelly detained by Israel at the young age of 13, has been released today, April 10, after spending ten years in an Israeli prison.
Palestinian media reported that Israel released him far from the prison where his family had been waiting for hours at the gates — an action that sources describe as an intentional act of oppression and cruelty – denying the family the joy of his liberation.
Throughout his decade-long imprisonment, Ahmad endured both psychological and physical torture. His health deteriorated severely and as a result he was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia from an independent Israeli clinical psychologist.
Photographs taken of Ahmad over the years show visible signs of abuse, as he was also incredulously placed in solitary confinement for nearly two years, for reasons Israeli authorities claim were “for his protection”.
According to the UN, solitary confinement lasting more than 15 consecutive days constitutes torture.
Ahmed, now 23-year-old, was born in Beit Hanina in the Occupied West Bank, and spent his childhood under the oppressive Israeli occupation before his arrest at 13. In 2005, he and his 15-year-old cousin, Hassan Manasra, were accused of attempting to stab two Israelis at an illegal settlement.
Hassan was killed at the scene, and Ahmad was severely beaten, run over, and left in critical condition while Israeli bystanders cheered and called for his death.
Despite Israeli courts determining that Ahmad did not participate in the stabbing, his trial was delayed, and he was convicted of attempted murder. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison on his 14th birthday, later reduced to 9 years.
Amnesty International welcomed Ahmad’s “long overdue” release, calling it the beginning of a difficult road to recovery.
“Ahmad Manasra’s release today is a huge relief for him and his family, but nothing can undo the years of injustice, abuse, trauma, and ill-treatment he endured behind bars,” said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa in a statement.
Morayef also pointed out that Ahmad’s case reflects broader patterns of abuse against Palestinian detainees, particularly children, and noted the recent death of 17-year-old Walid Khalid Abdullah Ahmad in Israeli custody, whose autopsy indicated death from starvation and severe medical neglect.
Manasra’s case had gained widespread attention, particularly in the Arab world, when footage of his interrogation was released. The video showed Israeli interrogators shouting and insulting the distressed child without a lawyer or parent present, as he became increasingly distressed.
“Ahmad Manasra’s release comes at a time when thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees face unprecedented levels of torture, ill-treatment, and the denial of basic rights such as food and healthcare,” said Amnesty.
In 2016, Israel’s Knesset passed a law permitting the trial of children as young as 12 as adults, with their trials typically taking place in military courts. Over the past two decades, Israel has detained an estimated 10,000 Palestinian children.
