Particle.news

Download on the App Store

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.

Ahmed Manasra (C), a 14-year old Palestinian boy, convicted of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a stabbing in October 2015, leaves the District Court in Jerusalem after his sentencing hearing on November 7, 2016.
The court sentenced Manasra to 12 years in jail for the knife attack, his lawyer said. / AFP / AHMAD GHARABLI        (Photo credit should read AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Image
Image

Overview

  • 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.