US Politicians Accused Of Selective Outrage In Calls To Protect Palestinian American Arrested In Israel

“You said nothing about Americans abducted by Hamas, but now care so much about a little terrorist in prison for trying to murder civilians,” said Jason Bedrick, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

(Oct. 22, 2025 / JNS)

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and accused the Jewish state of “callous disregard for human life,” brought renewed attention to Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian American arrested by the Israeli military in February for allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles multiple times in Judea and Samaria.

“His health is deteriorating. The circumstances are desperate,” Pressley stated on Monday. “The United States must use every avenue available to secure the release of this Palestinian American child.”

A U.S. State Department official told JNS that Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, has devoted significant time to the issues of Palestinian American safety in Judea and Samaria and to the welfare of Palestinian Christians.

The official, who declined to be named, would not say if Huckabee has been involved in Ibrahim’s case. (JNS sought comment from Huckabee’s office.)

Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who are also very critical of Israel, met with Ibrahim’s father last month during a congressional visit to the Middle East.

The 16-year-old’s family held high-profile meetings last month on Capitol Hill. Some expected Ibrahim, who is being held at Ofer Prison, to be among the Palestinian security prisoners whom Israel released last week in exchange for Israeli hostages in Gaza. He was not on that list.

 

‘Charge kid or put him on next flight’

Critics accused Pressley, a member of the progressive “Squad” in the U.S. House of Representatives, of selective outrage.

“You said nothing about Americans abducted by Hamas, but now care so much about a little terrorist in prison for trying to murder civilians by throwing rocks at their vehicles while they were driving,” stated Jason Bedrick, research fellow at the Heritage Foundation. “You are loathsome.”

Aaron Baker, a Republican running against Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) next year, stated that “Republicans and Democrats agree: Americans—Floridians abroad deserve equal rights to a fair trial.”

“Charge the kid or put him on the next flight back to U.S. soil,” he stated. “There is no reason to hold a U.S. citizen for eight months without charging him.”

In response to Pressley, Inna Vernikov, a Republican councilwoman in New York City, stated that “if he did not throw rocks at the vehicles of innocent civilians—those can kill—including women and children. I promise he would not be in an Israeli prison.”

She added: “Too bad Mohammed is brainwashed by a society that glorifies the murder of Jews as martyrdom.”

Ibrahim’s family lives in the Arab village of Silwad but splits its time between there and Palm Bay, Fla. He was reportedly on vacation at the time of his arrest and denies the charges.

U.S. embassy officials say that they have conducted welfare checks on Ibrahim but have faced unspecified restrictions. Ibrahim’s family says he has lost significant weight and suffers from a skin infection. The State Department hasn’t confirmed those claims.

By Mike Wagenheim