Ahmad Manasra Released After Nearly a Decade in Israeli Prison

The Palestinian, arrested at 13 and subjected to harsh conditions and solitary confinement, faces long-term mental health challenges following his release.

• Ahmad Manasra, now 23, was released on April 10, 2025, after completing a nine-and-a-half-year sentence for attempted murder in connection with a 2015 stabbing incident in East Jerusalem.
• Manasra was arrested at age 13 and convicted despite not directly participating in the stabbings; his sentence was later reduced from 12 years to nine and a half years on appeal.
• During his incarceration, Manasra endured prolonged solitary confinement, which led to severe mental health deterioration, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
• Repeated appeals for early release on medical grounds were denied, with Israeli authorities citing his terrorism conviction under the Counter-Terrorism Law.
• Rights groups have condemned his treatment as emblematic of systemic abuses against Palestinian detainees, particularly minors, within Israeli detention facilities.

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