Post by Fr David Neuhaus SJ | 13 February 2026
On October 18, 2022, Israeli armed forces entered the home of the Khoury family in East Jerusalem and pulled 16-year-old Shadi Khoury out of his bed. He was beaten and dragged bleeding to police interrogations that lasted for 41 days. He was then placed under house arrest. His court case was repeatedly delayed. Shadi appeared tens of times in court but no credible evidence was provided of any criminal activity. He is accused of having participated in a protest and having thrown stones at a police vehicle. At the end of January 2026, the prosecution asked for a sentence of four years in prison. Sentencing is due on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
Shady’s parents are well known in Palestinian society. His father, Suhail Khoury, is a musician, composer, and the general director of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM) in East Jerusalem. His mother, Rania Elias Khoury was the director of the Yabous Cultural Center in East Jerusalem until 2022. Shadi’s grandmother, Samia Khoury, a renowned social activist, is a founding member of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in East Jerusalem. The family is prominent in Jerusalem’s Christian community.
Read Shadi’s mother report of her son’s detention here:
https://electronicintifada.net/content/why-israel-persecutes-children-my-son-shadi/51221
Since 2000, an estimated 13,000 Palestinian children between the ages of 12 and 17 have been detained, prosecuted, and imprisoned by the forces that maintain Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Update:
On Sunday, 15.2.2026, Shadi Khoury was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison and a twelve thousand NIS fine. His prison term begins on 29.3. Please pray for him.