Report Finds 62% Children Detained in “Israeli” Military Systems Ill-Treated

The Defense for Children International (DCI) - Palestine Section, issued a report on the situation facing Palestinian children who are detained in "Israeli" military courts.
The report indicated that each year, approximately 700 Palestinian children, ageing young as 12 years old are arrested, interrogated, and prosecuted by the "Israeli" military court system.

The DCI report covered the period between 1 January and 30 June 2011, and it is based on testimonies of 45 children detained by the system. It further stated that 62% of the detained children's cases, the children are charged for throwing stones at "Israeli" soldiers.

Furthermore, the report also pointed out the involvement of the illegal "Israeli" settlements in the military detention system, for in 67% of the cases, the children are reported being ill-treated by soldiers while being present inside a settlement.

DCI-Palestine stressed that children should not be prosecuted in "Israeli" military courts, however as a minimum safeguard, the Report recommends that such interrogations should be recorded, and parents should be permitted to accompany their children during any form of questioning.

Moreover, the report highly recommended that an inquiry should be founded in order to investigate the ill-treatment of the children in the "Israeli" military detention system.