A Palestinian teenager detained by Israeli military authorities is currently hospitalized in critical condition in Jerusalem after suffering severe medical complications believed to stem from inadequate treatment while in custody. Mohammed Sliman, who was 15 at the time of his arrest in February, underwent two open-heart surgeries and a partial amputation of one leg, and remains in the intensive care unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
Mohammed was initially detained on February 25 at his family home in the West Bank village of Tuqu near Bethlehem. The Israeli military took him into custody on allegations of throwing objects during a military operation. His parents, Moussa and Sharifa Sliman, say they were not allowed to see him for two months and learned only through court proceedings that their son was being held at Ofer Prison near Ramallah.
According to doctors treating Mohammed, his health rapidly declined after contracting scabies while in prison. The skin infestation, which reportedly went untreated for months, led to a widespread infection that affected multiple organs, including his urinary tract, heart, and possibly his brain. Treatment delays culminated in his need for two heart valve replacements and the amputation of his leg above the knee on August 13, his 16th birthday.
During his hospitalization, Mohammed was reportedly kept shackled to his bed and under constant guard by prison officers, including during surgical procedures and while unconscious. His parents were initially barred from visiting him, sparking legal intervention. Following a High Court of Justice ruling, he was released from custody, allowing his family to be with him in the hospital. However, the family faces uncertainty regarding who will bear the costs of his ongoing care.
Medical staff at Shaare Zedek, including Dr. Daniel Fink and Prof. Dan Turner, have advocated for Mohammed’s continued treatment and rehabilitation, emphasizing the absence of suitable medical facilities in the West Bank to support his recovery. The patient's parents remain by his bedside, expressing concern that he could be returned to an environment ill-equipped to address his complex medical needs.
The case has raised serious questions about the medical treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. Naji Abbas, director of the Physicians for Human Rights’ Prisoners and Detainees Department, stated that scabies is widespread in multiple prison wings and characterized the neglect as a form of mistreatment. He claimed that the prison service's failure to control the outbreak has endangered many inmates.
In response, the Israeli Prison Service stated that Mohammed received continuous medical care “in accordance with professional considerations” and that all prisoners are afforded rights and medical treatment under law and Health Ministry regulations.
Mohammed’s family recounts the shock and devastation of seeing their previously healthy son fall ill under custody and now face a highly uncertain future. Moussa Sliman said he initially refused consent for the risky heart surgery but was compelled to authorize the procedure to save his son’s life. The family now focuses on securing long-term rehabilitation and medical support for him.