Israeli Court Sentences Palestinian Child To Prison

Gaza, 14 Muharram 1438/15 October 2016 (MINA) – Israel’s Central Court in Jerusalem approved yesterday a sentence against 14-year-old Palestinian Muawiyyeh Alqam to more than six years in prison, a fine of $6,800 and an additional 3-year sentence suspended for ten months.

The sentence was announced after a deal between the Israeli public prosecutor’s office and the child’s lawyer after Israeli authorities indicted him on charges of “possessing a knife and attempted murder.”

Previously, an Israeli court ruled that Alqam had to stay in a closed Israeli reformatory, but he preferred to go to a prison with adult Palestinian prisoners. He was previously incarcerated in HaSharon Prison before being moved to Magiddo Prison, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reported.

Israeli forces arrested Alqam and his cousin, Ali Alqam, 13, in a train station in Jerusalem after opening fire at them.

Ali was wounded by after he was shot three times in the abdomen and his right hand. Both were arrested and charged with attempting to stab a security guard near the Pisgat Ze’ev settlement.

During previous court hearings, Muawiyyeh told the Israeli judge that he was subjected to beatings during his transfer to the court and showed him clear effects on his hands and face, but the judge ignored his pleas.(T/P008/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)