PSS: Israel Arrested Over 900 Palestinian Children in 2018

Ramallah, MINA – The Israeli occupation forces have arrested 908 Palestinian children since the beginning of 2018, according to recent statistics.

The Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said in a statement on Tuesday, marking World Children’s Day, that 270 children are being held at Megiddo and Ofer jails, while there are other children currently held in Israeli police detention centers in Jerusalem, PIC reported.

The PPS said that the detained children are usually kidnapped from their homes late at night and beaten during their arrest. It added that even dozens of children have been deliberately shot while being arrested by the Israeli occupation forces.

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The PPS touched on the violations committed against Palestinian children at the Israeli detention centers, like keeping them without food or water for a long time, beating and insulting them, extracting confessions from them under pressure and torture, and imposing high fines on them.

Furthermore, some children during their detention are deprived of study, family visits, and treatment, even those who suffer from serious health problems or need regular treatment programs.

During the past year, the Palestinian child Hassan al-Tamimi, a resident of Deir Nezam town in Ramallah, lost his sight in Israeli jails because of medical neglect.

According to the PPS statement, since 2015, the issue of child detainees has witnessed a significant shift. Israel has adopted many bills that support imposing long sentences on detained children, including life imprisonment.

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The PPS called on human rights organizations, particularly the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, to make greater efforts to protect Palestinian children.

Based on the latest Palestinian statistics, there are about 6,500 Palestinians languishing in Israeli jails, including 350 children, 62 women, 6 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, 1800 sick prisoners, and 500 detainees held without charge or trial.(R/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)