JERUSALEM — Israel on Thursday released Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian who was imprisoned at the age of 13 for his role in a 2015 stabbing attack in Jerusalem. Manasra’s case drew widespread international attention over the years due to his age at the time of arrest and the mental health issues he reportedly developed during his incarceration.
Manasra, now 21, completed his nine-and-a-half-year sentence, according to his attorney Khaled Zabarqa. He was released to his family, though no immediate details were provided about his current health condition. Zabarqa confirmed that Manasra had been suffering from severe mental illness during his time in prison and was undergoing treatment.
In October 2015, Ahmad Manasra and his 15-year-old cousin Hassan carried out a knife attack in Pisgat Ze’ev, a Jewish settlement neighborhood in East Jerusalem. During the attack, Hassan critically wounded a 13-year-old Israeli boy and stabbed an adult Israeli man before being shot and killed by police. Ahmad was seriously injured after being hit by a car while fleeing. He was later beaten by bystanders, and a video of the incident — showing him bleeding and being verbally abused while lying on the street — circulated widely on social media and drew condemnation from rights groups.
Manasra was convicted of attempted murder and labeled a terrorist by Israeli authorities. Despite his young age and later-diagnosed mental illness, Israeli courts consistently rejected requests for early release, including appeals submitted to the country’s Supreme Court. Judges ruled that his terrorism conviction disqualified him from parole eligibility, regardless of age or medical status.
According to his lawyer and family, Manasra’s mental health significantly deteriorated during his detention. He was first placed in solitary confinement in November 2021 following an altercation with another inmate. Reports from that time stated that he was kept in a small isolation cell for 23 hours a day, suffering from hallucinations, paranoia, and insomnia. His condition worsened to the point that he reportedly attempted self-harm.
A physician who visited Manasra when he was 18 diagnosed him with schizophrenia, attributing the illness to the prolonged psychological stress and isolation experienced in prison. Medical professionals warned that continued incarceration could result in permanent psychiatric damage.
Over the years, Manasra was intermittently transferred to the psychiatric ward of another prison, where he was treated with medication, including regular injections to stabilize his condition. Despite the medical assessments and legal efforts, the Israeli judicial system did not grant early release or leniency.
The Israel Prison Service declined to provide specific details about the conditions of Manasra’s confinement but stated that all prisoners are treated in accordance with Israeli and international legal standards. The agency added that any complaints about mistreatment are investigated.
Human rights organizations have long criticized the treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli custody, and Manasra’s case became emblematic of the issue. Advocacy groups described his imprisonment as a violation of international norms regarding juvenile justice and mental health care in detention.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, conditions for Palestinian detainees in Israeli facilities have reportedly worsened. Several prisoners released in recent ceasefire deals appeared malnourished and in poor health, with many being taken directly to medical facilities upon release.
Last month, a Palestinian teenager held without charge in Israeli custody died after collapsing under unclear circumstances, becoming the first minor to die in Israeli detention in recent years.
Ahmad Manasra’s release ends a prolonged and contentious legal and humanitarian saga, but questions remain about the long-term impact of his incarceration on his mental health and future reintegration into society.
