Manasra was interrogated aged 13 without a lawyer or parent present

‘The shocking ill-treatment of Manasra and cruelty exhibited towards him by the Israeli prison authorities and the Israeli justice system is an illustration of broader patterns of abuse against Palestinian detainees, especially children’ - Heba Morayef

Responding to the release after nine and a half years imprisonment in an Israeli prison of Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian arrested at the age of 13, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:

"Ahmad Manasra’s release today is a huge relief for him and for his family, but nothing can undo the years of injustice, abuse, trauma and ill-treatment he endured behind bars.

“Instead of releasing him on medical grounds years earlier when his mental health conditions significantly deteriorated, the Israeli parole committee invoked a provision in the abusive Counter-Terrorism Law to block his early release.

“Manasra was interrogated at the age of 13 without a lawyer or parent present. Video footage of his interrogation showed interrogators shouting at him and insulting him as he became increasingly distressed.

“Despite mounting calls for his release, Israeli authorities placed him under solitary confinement for nearly two years which significantly worsened his conditions. Solitary confinement longer than 15 days violates the prohibition of torture.

“We express our deepest hope for Ahmad's recovery from the profound trauma he has suffered. He must be granted adequate access to the healthcare he needs in his native East Jerusalem without any discrimination and he and his family must be protected from any form of intimidation and abuse.

"The shocking ill-treatment of Manasra and cruelty exhibited towards him by the Israeli prison authorities and the Israeli justice system is an illustration of broader patterns of abuse against Palestinian detainees, especially children. Three weeks ago, a 17-year-old Palestinian detainee, Walid Khalid Abdullah Ahmad, died in Israeli custody likely due to a combination of starvation and extreme medical neglect and abuse, as evidenced by his autopsy.”

Ahmad Manasra’s release comes at a time when thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees face unprecedented levels of torture and other ill-treatment and denial of their most basic rights, such as food and healthcare. Israeli authorities repeatedly claimed that Manasra’s prolonged and cruel solitary confinement was aimed at protecting him, but in fact it subjected him to immense suffering.

Human rights violations

Ahmad Manasra was arrested in October 2015 in connection with a stabbing incident in occupied East Jerusalem. Despite evidence suggesting he did not participate in the stabbings, and despite his young age, he was subjected to harsh interrogation without legal representation or the presence of his parents. Footage of his interrogation, showing him distressed and injured, sparked international concern.

In 2016, Manasra was convicted of attempted murder in proceedings that raised serious concerns about due process and his rights as a child. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, later reduced to nine-and-a-half years in prison. His request for early release on medical grounds were rejected by the Israeli parole committee in 2022, decisions which the Israeli courts upheld. 

During his years of incarceration, Manasra's mental health significantly deteriorated, particularly during nearly two years spent in solitary confinement beginning in November 2021. Medical professionals diagnosed him with severe psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and severe depression, leading to hospitalisation within the prison system. Amnesty repeatedly raised concerns about his well-being and the detrimental impact of prolonged solitary confinement, which violates international law.

Amnesty has consistently highlighted Manasra's case as emblematic of the systemic human rights violations faced by Palestinian children within the Israeli military justice system.