US 'gravely concerned' by Palestinian-American jailing

WASHINGTON D.C. (AA) - The United States has said it is "gravely concerned" for the welfare of a 15-year-old Palestinian-American being held in an Israeli jail. Mohammad Abu Nie was taken into Israeli custody on July 3 during protests in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat sparked by the abduction and killing of Mohammed Abu Khdeir. Speaking to journalists Thursday, deputy State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said: "We are calling for a speedy resolution to this case, this 15-year-old has now been held for five weeks in Israeli custody and we are gravely concerned over the prolonged detention of this U.S. citizen and child."
The detention of Nie follows that of Tariq Abu Khdeir, another Palestinian-American and cousin of the slain teenager whose death ignited fierce street protests.
Police are said to have beaten Khdeir during a demonstration commemorating the killing of his cousin Mohammed. Video of the incident sparked international outrage.
Photographs taken shortly after the apparent beating show him with a swollen and bloodied face, barely recognizable from photos taken before the assault.
Tariq Abu Khdeir was released from custody and has since returned to the U.S.