A 15-year-old American boy is being held by Israel for allegedly playing a leading role in violent East Jerusalem protests.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said considering his age, America is calling for a speedy resolution to the case of Mohamed Abu Nie.

Ms Psaki said he had been held since being arrested on July 3 on various charges alleging that he threw rocks, attacked police, was carrying a knife and led protests linked to the unrest between Israel and Hamas.

The US is also concerned about claims that he might have been beaten while in custody.

The US embassy in Tel Aviv was assisting him and was in contact with his family and his lawyer, Ms Psaki said.

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