DaysofPal – Mahmoud Fouad Abu Alia, an 11-year-old Palestinian boy, described his arrest and alleged assault by Israeli soldiers during a recent raid on the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Mahmoud said he was inside a local shop buying daily necessities when soldiers entered the store and detained him. “Five soldiers came into the supermarket, took me to the military jeep, and started beating me on my face and body,” he said.
In testimony given to Al Jazeera Mubasher, the child stated that the assault continued during his transfer in the military vehicle. He said the soldiers kept hitting him and forced him to remain silent. “They kept beating me inside the jeep and struck me on my back with a rifle,” he said.
Mahmoud added that he was held for about an hour before being released at the eastern entrance of the village. He said that after his release, a settler opened fire in his direction, though he was not injured.
The child spoke about the fear experienced by children in the village. “I have the right to live in peace and play, but the Palestinian child does not live his childhood,” he said, referring to repeated raids and assaults.
His father, Fouad Abu Alia, said his son endured violence “that even adults could not bear.” He explained that Mahmoud had been on his way to buy household items when soldiers detained him and subjected him to severe beating.
The father said his son suffered bruises across different parts of his body and was taken to the hospital for medical examinations.
He added that targeting children during raids has become a recurring pattern in the village, pointing to an escalation in Israeli military operations and repeated incursions.
Attaf Abu Alia, the shop owner, confirmed that Mahmoud had been shopping when soldiers entered the store. “Four soldiers stormed the shop, pulled the child out, and beat him even though he was doing nothing but buying items,” he said.
According to Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups, Israeli authorities are currently detaining at least 350 children among more than 9,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Human rights reports indicate that between 500 and 700 Palestinian children are arrested each year and tried before Israeli military courts. Rights groups warn of the long-term psychological and social consequences of such practices on children.
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