PALESTINIAN CHILDREN DETAINED, PROSECUTED BY ISRAEL ON RISE

       Ramallah, 19 Rabiul Akhir 1434 H/1 March 2013 (PressTv/MINA) – A recent report shows a rise in the number of Palestinian children being imprisoned and prosecuted by Israeli military courts, according to Press TV reports monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), Friday.

       According to a Detention Bulletin issued by the Defense for Children International’s Palestine Section, the figure has increased by more than 14 percent during January of 2013.  The bulletin says the number of detained and prosecuted children aged 12-15 increased by 34.8 percent. 

       Unlawful transfers to Israeli detention centers went up by over 30 percent. The transfer of child prisoners from the West Bank to Israeli detention facilities is against article 76 of the Geneva Convention. 

       This comes days after the controversial death of Arafat Jaradat, 30, who was in Israel custody. Although Israel claims he died of cardiac arrest, sources say he was tortured before his death. 

        According to an April 1, 2012 report published by the non-governmental Palestinian Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, at least 4.610 “political” Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails. 

         Independent sources, however, put the number of Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails at 11,000. (T/P05/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)