The Commission of Prisoners and Ex-Detainees Affairs raised on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, concerns over the continued detention of 170 Palestinian children by Israeli occupation authorities. These children are being held in harsh conditions across various detention centers including “Ofer,” “Megiddo,” and “Al-Damon.”
In a report issued today, the committee revealed that these prisons lack the minimum living and humanitarian conditions required. The child prisoners reportedly face methods of torture that defy international human rights standards, painting a disturbing picture of their treatment.
The violations Palestinian children face within Israeli prisons are unparalleled in the history of human rights and international organizations. This raises questions about the efficacy of these organizations and their inability to secure the basic protection of these minors.
The committee disclosed that since the year 2000, Israeli forces have arrested over 17,000 Palestinian children, aged between 12 and 18. Shockingly, cases have been recorded where children as young as 10 years old have been detained.
Around three-quarters of the child prisoners have reportedly experienced physical torture, while all detainees have faced psychological torture at various stages of their incarceration. These grim statistics and documented testimonies come from legal teams visiting the occupation’s prisons.
The committee emphasized that the highest rate of arrests involves minors from Jerusalem, where dozens are arrested daily and held unlawfully. In addition to arbitrary detention, child prisoners face house arrest, expulsion from Jerusalem, and exorbitant fines.
Currently, there are approximately 5,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention centers, including 170 children. This includes 31 girls and women, 18 journalist prisoners, and around 1,300 administrative detainees. Additionally, there are 700 sick prisoners, with approximately 200 needing urgent medical attention and necessary care.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=47159
