On World Children's Day: Palestinian Child Prisoners Face Unprecedented Violations

As the Israeli occupation continues its repressive practices against the Palestinian people, systematic violations against child prisoners in Israeli jails escalate, in clear violation of international laws and treaties that mandate the protection of children’s rights, even during conflicts. World Children's Day, observed annually on November 20, arrives amidst dire circumstances, marked by the occupation's organized and systematic crimes. These include torture, starvation, medical neglect, and a rise in various forms of sexual violence, which have resulted in the martyrdom of dozens of prisoners and detainees.

Harrowing images have exposed the emaciated physical condition of children released from Israeli detention due to systematic starvation targeting all prisoners, including children, in blatant defiance of international laws and conventions that uphold human dignity. Since the onset of the genocide-like war, the situation for child prisoners has drastically worsened, with a recorded escalation in arrests. At least 770 children from the West Bank have been detained, while the exact number of children detained from Gaza remains unknown due to the ongoing crime of enforced disappearance. Currently, at least 270 children remain in detention, primarily in Ofer and Megiddo prisons, in addition to newly established military camps following the war to accommodate the surge in mass arrests affecting thousands of citizens.

Palestinian human rights organizations operating in the occupied territories, through legal teams, have gathered dozens of testimonies from detained children. These accounts highlight severe violations, including deliberate medical neglect, systematic starvation, and unprecedented levels of humiliation and torture in prison cells, which include repeated invasive searches and physical assaults.

Violations Documented by the International Solidarity Organization for Palestinian Prisoners (Tadamon):

1. Physical and Psychological Torture:
   Palestinian children are subjected to physical torture during arrest and interrogation, including beatings and excessive restraint, alongside psychological torture through threats of death or harm to their families. Human Rights Watch reports that Israeli practices violate Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits torture and cruel treatment.

2. Arrests of Illegally Young Children:
   Children as young as 12 years old, and sometimes younger, are detained, in blatant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which stipulates that detention must be a “last resort and for the shortest appropriate period.”

3. Unjust Military Trials:
   Palestinian children face military courts that lack the basic guarantees of a fair trial, as highlighted by the Defense for Children International – Palestine. These courts aim to prolong detentions and intimidate the children.

4. Psychological Torture and Inhumane Conditions:
   Child prisoners endure inhumane detention conditions, including solitary confinement, malnutrition, and medical neglect, which severely impact their physical and mental health.

Violations of International Law:

• Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 16 guarantees the protection of children from torture and humiliation.
• Geneva Conventions: Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits the trial of civilians, including children, in military courts.
• International Human Rights Law: Mandates that the detention of children must respect their dignity and fundamental rights.

UNICEF’s 2023 report confirmed that “Israeli practices against detained Palestinian children constitute clear violations of their fundamental human rights, with persistent torture and coercion during interrogations.” Amnesty International also stated that “the use of administrative detention against Palestinian children is a form of collective punishment that cannot be justified under international law.”

Recommendations from Tadamon:

1. The international community must pressure the Israeli occupation to cease its brutal policies against child prisoners.
2. Independent investigative committees should be formed to probe violations against child prisoners.
3. Immediate action is needed to release all detained children and ensure their psychological and social rehabilitation.

Palestinian child prisoners are not just numbers; they are souls deserving protection. The world’s silence on these crimes deepens the suffering of these children and prolongs an occupation that undermines fundamental human rights.

#FreePalestinianChildPrisoners
#HumanRightsForChildren
#WorldChildrensDay

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