Gaza - Basma M. Al-Kashif
Although international conventions do not permit the detention of children as well as torture them, except in special and limited cases, provided that dealing with them good-treatment and providing their rights, but unfortunately the Israeli occupation has disregarded these conventions, and they are deliberately kidnapping the largest number of children on the barriers and from homes, schools and streets in the occupied West Bank.
Supporters of Prisoners Organization issued a report stated that Israel has made the detention of Palestinian children and killing them its first choice, which is proved through the Israeli daily practices in the occupied territories, despite international conventions on the rights of children and the need to provide protection to them, and protected by some military laws which became a part of big list of laws that allow them to torture of detain Palestinian children under the age of 18 years.
The report showed that the Israeli occupation forces pursue a policy of intimidation of children since the first Intifada in 1987, and the repeated international convictions didn't deter them from practicing such inhuman actions, emphasizing on the need for the presence of international protection, especially for children.
The organization confirmed that the everyday experiences prove that the Israeli occupation was targeting the Palestinian children, and statistics indicate that 500 children, under the age of 18 years, have been arrested per year, that considered as a shameful assault on the international laws on human rights.
Whereas, 310 children are still languishing in the Israeli prisons and interrogation centers and suffering as other adult detainees.
The organization added that Israel has applied to the Palestinian children the law no. 132 which allows the detention of children and bring them to justice in front of the Israeli judiciary, noting the violations which committed against the detained children in the Israeli jails.
The organization confirmed that a large number of Palestinian children who are exposed to the experience of detention, which is considered as a traumatic experience, and greater than that borne by their age, resulting fear since the moment of their arrest until their release from captivity.
Accordingly, Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs appealed all international community and institutions which concern about the children's rights to pressure on the Israeli occupation to stop the criminal violations against detained children in its prisons and respect all international laws that take an interest in children's rights.
