DaysofPal – Ahmad Manasra, a 23-year-old Palestinian from occupied East Jerusalem, was placed under house arrest by Israeli authorities just hours after his long-awaited release from prison, where he had spent over nine and a half years.
The Israeli occupation police imposed the house arrest order until the upcoming Sunday and demanded a refundable bail of 3,000 shekels, effectively preventing him from celebrating his freedom with his family and community.
Manasra, who was only 13 when he was arrested in 2015, was accused of being involved in a stabbing attack near the illegal settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev in East Jerusalem. Although his cousin Hassan Manasra, who was 15 at the time, carried out the stabbing and was fatally shot at the scene, Ahmad was charged with attempted murder despite not having directly attacked anyone, a fact acknowledged by the Israeli courts.
On the day of his release, Ahmad’s family had gathered outside Nafha prison to welcome him home. However, in a deliberate and humiliating move, Israeli authorities released him at a remote location far from the prison gate.
His family was only informed of his whereabouts by a Bedouin resident in the Beersheba area, who notified them that Ahmad was with him.
Ahmad’s case garnered international attention over the years, not only due to his young age at the time of arrest but also due to the severe mental health deterioration he suffered during his imprisonment.
Following his violent arrest, which included being beaten by Israeli civilians and run over by a car, resulting in skull fractures and internal bleeding, Ahmad developed schizophrenia, according to a medical assessment by a doctor from Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières).
Despite multiple appeals, Ahmad was kept in solitary confinement for prolonged periods, including being locked in a small cell for 23 hours a day. His lawyers and family described episodes of paranoia, hallucinations, and self-harm attempts.
In 2021, a warning by the MSF doctor highlighted the risks of permanent psychological damage if his detention continued.
His release came after persistent calls from both local and international human rights organizations. The United Nations, the European Union, and various advocacy groups urged Israel to free Manasra, citing violations of his rights as a minor and a mentally ill prisoner.
Amnesty International’s regional director, Heba Morayef, welcomed the news of his release as a “huge relief” for his family but also underscored the irreversible damage done. “Nothing can undo the years of injustice, abuse, trauma, and ill-treatment he endured behind bars,” Morayef said in a statement.
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