Ahmed Manasra walks out of the Jerusalem District Court after his sentencing on November 7, 2016. Getty Images
Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian man who went to jail at age 13, has now returned home. Israeli authorities released him this week after he completed a 10-year sentence. His lawyer, Khaled Zabarqa, said that Manasra is finally free but added that Israel has placed limits on the family. They are not allowed to celebrate publicly or speak to the media.
Manasra was arrested in 2015. At the time, he was with his cousin Hassan, who stabbed two Israelis in East Jerusalem. Hassan died on the spot when police shot him. Manasra did not take part in the attack but was badly hurt after being hit by a car during the incident.
The case caught worldwide attention when a video came out showing people yelling at Manasra while he lay on the ground, bleeding and in pain. Other clips reportedly show Israeli officers questioning him while he was clearly scared and confused. Rights groups have pointed out that Manasra seemed too young and too hurt to be treated that way.
An Israeli court later gave him a 12-year sentence for attempted murder, although it accepted he didn’t actually stab anyone. After an appeal in 2017, the sentence was reduced to nine and a half years.
During his time in jail, Manasra spent long periods alone in a cell. Doctors later said he developed serious mental health problems, including schizophrenia. His lawyer said Manasra has also suffered from head injuries and that the time in isolation made things worse. "His condition is very difficult," the lawyer explained, adding that harsh treatment started when he was still just a child.
Several international groups had asked Israel many times to let him go. They said the way he was treated raised serious human rights concerns. But their calls were ignored until now.
Israel’s prison authorities confirmed his release on Thursday. They said their country follows the law and does not torture prisoners.
Meanwhile, another case has raised fresh concerns. A 17-year-old Palestinian boy, Walid Khalid Ahmad, recently died in an Israeli jail. An autopsy said the likely cause was severe and long-term malnutrition. This has led to more criticism from human rights groups, who say that prison conditions must improve.
Ahmad Manasra is now back with his family. But his journey has left deep marks. His lawyer says he needs time, care, and space to heal after all he’s been through.
