Ahmad Manasra freed after nearly a decade behind bars

Department of Research, Studies and International News 11-04-2025

Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian from occupied East Jerusalem, has been released after serving a prison sentence of nine and a half years, sparking renewed discussions about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian minors and the long-term psychological toll of incarceration. Manasra was just 13 years old when he was arrested in 2015 in connection with a stabbing incident near the Pisgat Ze’ev settlement in East Jerusalem.

Now 23, Manasra has emerged from prison amid serious concerns about his physical and mental wellbeing. His lawyer, Khaled Zabarqa, confirmed the release and stated that the young man has been reunited with his family, although the exact condition of his health remains unclear.

Manasra was detained for allegedly accompanying his cousin, 15-year-old Hassan Manasra, during an attack in which two Israelis were stabbed. Hassan was shot and killed at the scene by an Israeli civilian. Ahmad, although he did not participate in the stabbing, was brutally assaulted by a group of Israeli individuals and later struck by a car, sustaining multiple skull fractures and severe internal bleeding. A disturbing video showing Ahmad lying injured and bleeding while being verbally abused by onlookers circulated widely on social media at the time, drawing international condemnation.

Despite not being directly involved in the act of violence, Ahmad was charged with attempted murder. The Israeli court acknowledged that he had not carried out the stabbings, yet proceeded with the conviction. His case became a focal point in human rights debates, particularly after a legislative amendment in Israel enabled the prosecution of minors as young as 12 for “terrorist” acts. This change in law was applied retroactively, making Ahmad one of the earliest examples of its implementation.

Over the years, Ahmad’s mental health significantly deteriorated. Reports from his family and legal team described prolonged periods of solitary confinement and increasingly erratic behavior. In late 2021, he was isolated after a conflict with another prisoner, and from that point onward, he reportedly spent up to 23 hours a day in a small cell. He exhibited signs of severe psychological distress, including delusions and paranoia, which his lawyer stated interfered with his ability to sleep and led to self-harming behavior.

Medical intervention was sporadic and, according to his family, inadequate. While he was occasionally transferred to psychiatric units within prison facilities and administered stabilizing medications, his access to external psychiatric care was minimal. In December 2021, a mental health specialist from Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) was permitted to examine him for the first time since his arrest. The doctor diagnosed Ahmad with schizophrenia and warned that continued incarceration without proper care could cause irreversible mental damage.

Human rights organizations and international institutions repeatedly urged Israeli authorities to release Ahmad on humanitarian grounds. The United Nations, European Union, and numerous advocacy groups highlighted his case as emblematic of broader issues in Israel’s juvenile justice system, particularly concerning the treatment of Palestinian detainees. Amnesty International described his detention as emblematic of the “systemic injustice” Palestinians face under Israeli rule. Heba Morayef, Amnesty’s regional director, welcomed the news of his release, emphasizing the years of suffering he endured: “Nothing can undo the trauma and mistreatment he was subjected to,” she stated.

Despite these widespread calls, multiple appeals for Ahmad’s early release were rejected by Israel’s Supreme Court. The court cited the nature of his conviction, categorized under terrorism-related charges, as justification for denying leniency, regardless of his age at the time of the offense or his deteriorating mental condition.

His release was carried out in a quiet, almost clandestine manner. According to Zabarqa, Israeli authorities deliberately avoided allowing his family to greet him at the prison gates. Instead, he was left alone in an unpopulated area near Beersheba in southern Israel. A passerby eventually spotted him and contacted his family, who then traveled to reunite with him.

As Ahmad begins his life outside prison, his future remains uncertain. His family, now focused on helping him recover from the years of psychological and physical trauma, has called for continued support from the international community. Zabarqa noted that further assessments will be needed to determine the full extent of Ahmad’s health issues and what kind of care he will require going forward.

The case of Ahmad Manasra has reignited debate around the detention and prosecution of Palestinian minors, the conditions under which they are held, and the broader implications for human rights in the region.