EGP declines vs. USD at Thursday's close    Euro area inflation rises to 2.0% in October '24 – flash estimates    IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO SMOKES, GIVE THEM THE FACTS    Asian stocks slide as chip sector weakens    Egypt's Minister of Environment highlights biodiversity issues at COP16    Egypt's Agriculture Minister meets Syrian, Bahraini counterparts to boost cooperation in Amman    Al-Qassam Brigades targets Israeli vehicles in eastern Gaza    ACUD, DP World, and GAFI sign MoU to develop free zone in New Capital    Egyptian government encourages increased mutual investment with Bahrain: Finance Minister    A Tale of Two Cities: Alexandria hosts 2nd edition of exhibition celebrating Greek, Egyptian cultural ties    Egypt, Djibouti leaders discuss strengthening ties, regional issues    Egypt's FM affirms commitment to Sahel security, offers support to Niger    Egyptian banking sector support underprivileged communities in Alexandria – CBE    Afghanistan signs $163m deal for cement plant    US tightens tech investment rules for China    Biden unveils $3b investment to strengthen US port infrastructure    Military Production, Environment Ministers inaugurate banana fiber recycling plant    Luxor Museum to host exhibition on 19th century antiquities inspection tours    Nourhan Kamal Wins 2024 Helmi Sharawy Award for African Studies    Egypt observes Intl. E-waste Day, highlights recycling efforts    Egypt's military capabilities sufficient to defend country: Al-Sisi    Al-Sisi emphasises water security is Egypt's top priority amid Nile River concerns    Cairo Opera House hosts grand opening of Arab Music Festival, Conference    Grand Egyptian Museum ready for partial trial run on October 16: PM    Colombia unveils $40b investment plan for climate transition    Kabaddi: Ancient Indian sport gaining popularity in Egypt    Ecuador's drought forces further power cuts    Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul after Paris Olympics    Basketball Africa League Future Pros returns for 2nd season    Egypt joins Africa's FEDA    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Paris Olympics opening draws record viewers    Who leads the economic portfolios in Egypt's new Cabinet?    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



UN committee concerned over Palestinian children jailed by Israel
Published in Bikya Masr on 20 - 07 - 2012

The UN Special Committee on Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories expressed serious concern about the treatment of Palestinian children in detention by Israeli security forces, and warned that a pattern of detaining and mistreating children “links to broader, longstanding concerns regarding Israel detention of Palestinians generally."
“Witnesses informed the Committee that mistreatment of Palestinian children starts from the moment of detention," said Ambassador Palitha T.B. Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York, and Chairperson of the Committee, at the end of a fact-finding visit to Amman, Cairo and the Gaza Strip.
“Large numbers are routinely detained. Children's homes are surrounded by Israeli soldiers late at night, sound grenades are fired into the houses, doors are broken down, live shots are often fired; no warrant is presented," he noted. “Children are tightly bound, blindfolded and forced into the backs of military vehicles."
Ambassador Kohona explained that parents are not allowed to accompany the detainees, and that family members are insulted, intimidated and at times physically assaulted. According to witnesses, the detention and transfer of children can last for hours, and can often include stops in Israeli settlements, Israeli checkpoints and police or military bases.
“Children are not informed of their rights, including their right to legal representation and to not incriminate themselves," he warned. In 63% of cases involving Palestinian children, according to testimony received, Israeli officials attempt to pressure them into becoming informants. “The Committee's view is that this is an unacceptable practice, one that Israel must end immediately."
“Reports of the interrogation of Palestinian children are of utmost concern to the Committee, as well as conditions of detention generally," Ambassador Kohona stressed. “Palestinian children in detention are often denied family visits, denied access to legal representation, held in cells with adults, denied access to education, and -even at the age of 12- tried in Israeli military courts."
“We were dismayed to hear that Israel continues its practice of sentencing children to prison, or to house arrest in homes other than their own families, in effect exiling them from their families," he said. The Committee was informed by witnesses that there were 192 children in detention, 39 were under the age of 16.
The Committee was also shocked to learn that Israel puts Palestinian children in solitary confinement. “According to testimony received, Israel uses solitary confinement against 12% of Palestinian child detainees," Ambassador Kohona noted. “This is especially troubling when one considers that Israel arrests about 500 to 700 Palestinian children every year."
In its preliminary observations, the UN Special Committee drew attention to two further areas of immediate concern in the West bank, including East Jerusalem: the Israeli practice of demolishing Palestinian homes, and violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. The experts also assessed the economic impact of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.
“These Israeli practices lead the Special Committee to one over-arching and deeply troubling conclusion," Ambassador Kohona underscored. “The mass imprisonment of Palestinians; the routine demolition of homes and the displacement of Palestinians; the widespread violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians; and the blockade and resultant reliance on illegal smuggling to survive; these practices amount to a strategy to either force the Palestinian people off their land or so severely marginalize them as to establish and maintain a system of permanent oppression."
The Special Committee will present a mission report to the UN General Assembly next November, with its observations and recommendations to improve the human rights situation for those whose lives are affected by occupation.


Clic here to read the story from its source.