5 feb 2017
An Israeli court on Sunday morning sentenced a teenage Palestinian girl from Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem to six years in prison after she was charged with knife possession and planning a stab attack.
Hayat Shweiki told Ma'an that the Jerusalem magistrate's court formally sentenced her daughter Manar Majdi Shweiki to six years in prison after the girl had already spent more than a year in detention, highlighting that the court postponed the sentencing twice since the beginning of 2017.
Her lawyer Mustafa Yahya said last week that the ruling was postponed because the court was awaiting a report regarding Shweiki's behavior over the course of her detention, though Yahya said at the time he already reached a plea bargain with the Israeli prosecution that determined the six-year sentence.
Since her detention in December last year, Shweiki has been moved between Israel's Ramla and HaSharon prisons.
Israeli police first detained her on Dec. 6 in the Wadi Hilweh area of the Silwan, claiming they found a knife in her bag after searching her belongings, though it was unclear what had prompted the search in the first place.
Ma'an reported at the time that Palestinian youths filmed the search and arrest of the girl on their phones, which were later confiscated by Israeli forces, and clashes subsequently broke out in the area with one youth being injured from shrapnel after a stun grenade exploded nearby.
Two days later, Israeli authorities released Shweiki, but on Dec. 22, Israeli police detained her again on the streets of occupied East Jerusalem's Old City in the al-Sharaf neighborhood. It remained unclear what prompted forces to detain her the second time.
Her prison sentence is the latest in an Israeli crackdown on young Jerusalemite Palestinians, many of them women, who have been accused of involvement in attacks, while Israeli authorities have ordered lengthy prison sentences for Palestinians as young as 14 years old in both East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
Despite “on paper” having more rights than Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank who are subject to a draconian military detention system, in practice, Jerusalem minors “do not enjoy their enshrined rights” under a discriminatory Israeli civilian court system, according to rights group Defense for Children International - Palestine.
Most recently on Tuesday, an Israeli military court sentenced 16-year-old Amal Jamal Qabha to 18 months in prison for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier last year.
Some of the harsher sentences to be handed down recently include a 35-year sentence to a 22-year-old Jerusalemite for allegedly assisting in a deadly stabbing attack, an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for an alleged stabbing attempt by a 17-year-old East Jerusalem girl, 16 years in prison and a $20,929 fine for a 19-year-old Palestinian girl who was shot and injured while allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli settler, while a Palestinian youth was sentenced to 18 years in prison for allegedly throwing a rock at an Israeli vehicle that caused the death of an Israeli -- representing the harshest sentence ever handed down for stone-throwing.
Last October, prisoners’ rights group Addameer reported that Israel was holding 64 female Palestinian prisoners and some 400 Palestinian minors.
Since a wave of political unrest spread across the occupied Palestinian territory in October 2015, leading to Israeli forces carrying out mass detention campaigns, the number of Palestinian women and girls detained by Israeli forces has risen sharply.
According to Addameer, among those detained between October 2015 and August 2016 were 13 underage girls, some of whom were wounded when Israeli forces detained them.
The group has also reported on the treatment of Palestinian women prisoners by Israeli prison authorities, stating that the majority of Palestinian women detainees were subjected to "psychological torture" and "ill-treatment" by Israeli authorities, including "various forms of sexual violence that occur such as beatings, insults, threats, body searches, and sexually explicit harassment.”
Hayat Shweiki told Ma'an that the Jerusalem magistrate's court formally sentenced her daughter Manar Majdi Shweiki to six years in prison after the girl had already spent more than a year in detention, highlighting that the court postponed the sentencing twice since the beginning of 2017.
Her lawyer Mustafa Yahya said last week that the ruling was postponed because the court was awaiting a report regarding Shweiki's behavior over the course of her detention, though Yahya said at the time he already reached a plea bargain with the Israeli prosecution that determined the six-year sentence.
Since her detention in December last year, Shweiki has been moved between Israel's Ramla and HaSharon prisons.
Israeli police first detained her on Dec. 6 in the Wadi Hilweh area of the Silwan, claiming they found a knife in her bag after searching her belongings, though it was unclear what had prompted the search in the first place.
Ma'an reported at the time that Palestinian youths filmed the search and arrest of the girl on their phones, which were later confiscated by Israeli forces, and clashes subsequently broke out in the area with one youth being injured from shrapnel after a stun grenade exploded nearby.
Two days later, Israeli authorities released Shweiki, but on Dec. 22, Israeli police detained her again on the streets of occupied East Jerusalem's Old City in the al-Sharaf neighborhood. It remained unclear what prompted forces to detain her the second time.
Her prison sentence is the latest in an Israeli crackdown on young Jerusalemite Palestinians, many of them women, who have been accused of involvement in attacks, while Israeli authorities have ordered lengthy prison sentences for Palestinians as young as 14 years old in both East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
Despite “on paper” having more rights than Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank who are subject to a draconian military detention system, in practice, Jerusalem minors “do not enjoy their enshrined rights” under a discriminatory Israeli civilian court system, according to rights group Defense for Children International - Palestine.
Most recently on Tuesday, an Israeli military court sentenced 16-year-old Amal Jamal Qabha to 18 months in prison for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier last year.
Some of the harsher sentences to be handed down recently include a 35-year sentence to a 22-year-old Jerusalemite for allegedly assisting in a deadly stabbing attack, an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for an alleged stabbing attempt by a 17-year-old East Jerusalem girl, 16 years in prison and a $20,929 fine for a 19-year-old Palestinian girl who was shot and injured while allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli settler, while a Palestinian youth was sentenced to 18 years in prison for allegedly throwing a rock at an Israeli vehicle that caused the death of an Israeli -- representing the harshest sentence ever handed down for stone-throwing.
Last October, prisoners’ rights group Addameer reported that Israel was holding 64 female Palestinian prisoners and some 400 Palestinian minors.
Since a wave of political unrest spread across the occupied Palestinian territory in October 2015, leading to Israeli forces carrying out mass detention campaigns, the number of Palestinian women and girls detained by Israeli forces has risen sharply.
According to Addameer, among those detained between October 2015 and August 2016 were 13 underage girls, some of whom were wounded when Israeli forces detained them.
The group has also reported on the treatment of Palestinian women prisoners by Israeli prison authorities, stating that the majority of Palestinian women detainees were subjected to "psychological torture" and "ill-treatment" by Israeli authorities, including "various forms of sexual violence that occur such as beatings, insults, threats, body searches, and sexually explicit harassment.”
1 feb 2017
15-year-old child Osama Zaidat, who was recently released from an Israeli jail, has said that the detainees in Ramla hospital suffer from tragic health conditions and deliberate medical neglect.
This came during a visit paid to him in Palestine hospital by head of the Palestinian commission for detainees’ affairs Issa Qaraqie.
This came during a visit paid to him in Palestine hospital by head of the Palestinian commission for detainees’ affairs Issa Qaraqie.
Jalal Sharawneh
Zaidat also handed Qaraqie a letter from 17-year-old Jalal Sharawneh describing the medical conditions of detainees and his difficult health status in the Israeli hospital.
The Israeli occupation authority released Zaidat, from Bani Na’im town in al-Khalil, on Monday and later he was transferred to Palestine hospital in Ramallah to pursue his medical treatment.
He was arrested on September 23, 2016 after he was shot by an Israeli soldier.
A few days ago, an Israeli court issued a verdict ordering the release of Zaidat on bail amounting to 25,000 shekels.
Zaidat also handed Qaraqie a letter from 17-year-old Jalal Sharawneh describing the medical conditions of detainees and his difficult health status in the Israeli hospital.
The Israeli occupation authority released Zaidat, from Bani Na’im town in al-Khalil, on Monday and later he was transferred to Palestine hospital in Ramallah to pursue his medical treatment.
He was arrested on September 23, 2016 after he was shot by an Israeli soldier.
A few days ago, an Israeli court issued a verdict ordering the release of Zaidat on bail amounting to 25,000 shekels.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, several homes in Beit Ummar town, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, searched and ransacked them causing excessive damage, and abducted six Palestinians, including a child.
Mohammad Awad, an activist with the Popular Committee in Beit Ummar, said the soldiers abducted Mohammad Monir Ekhlayyel, 37, Ahmad Khader Abu Mariya, 50, Maher Ibrahim Sabarna, 35, Waheed Abu Mariya, 14, Ayman Ali Abu ‘Arqoub, 32, and Omar Rajoub.
Awad added that the soldiers also detained him while he was trying to document their invasions and violent searches, and confiscated his camera.
The soldiers also summoned a former political prisoner, identified as Ala Mousa Za’aqeeq, 25, for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, north of Hebron.
Awad stated that the soldiers stormed many homes, and violently searched them, in the downtown area, Khallet al-‘Ein, ‘Aseeda, ‘Erq a-Latoun and Safa.
Owners of some of the invaded homes have been identified as Mohammad Shafiq Ekhlayyel, Monir Ekhlayyel and Waheed Abu Mariya; the soldiers smashed their doors, and violently searched them, also using military dogs.
Mohammad Awad, an activist with the Popular Committee in Beit Ummar, said the soldiers abducted Mohammad Monir Ekhlayyel, 37, Ahmad Khader Abu Mariya, 50, Maher Ibrahim Sabarna, 35, Waheed Abu Mariya, 14, Ayman Ali Abu ‘Arqoub, 32, and Omar Rajoub.
Awad added that the soldiers also detained him while he was trying to document their invasions and violent searches, and confiscated his camera.
The soldiers also summoned a former political prisoner, identified as Ala Mousa Za’aqeeq, 25, for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, north of Hebron.
Awad stated that the soldiers stormed many homes, and violently searched them, in the downtown area, Khallet al-‘Ein, ‘Aseeda, ‘Erq a-Latoun and Safa.
Owners of some of the invaded homes have been identified as Mohammad Shafiq Ekhlayyel, Monir Ekhlayyel and Waheed Abu Mariya; the soldiers smashed their doors, and violently searched them, also using military dogs.
31 jan 2017
12-year-old student at the Palestinian Circus School, Sohaib Saeed, was abducted last Thursday, in Birzeit, by the Israeli occupation army.
Sohaib was sentenced to 31 days in prison and a fine of 500 NIS (135 USD) on charges of throwing stones.
The school, in a statement expressed outrage about the imprisonment of the child, saying that this arrest “will inflict serious and lasting damage on his mental and physical well being.”
“Israel is the only country in the world that automatically prosecutes children in military courts that lack basic and fundamental fair trial guarantees,” the school said, according to the PNN.
“A UNICEF report of 2013 concludes that the ill-treatment of children who come in contact with the (Israeli) military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized throughout the process, from the moment of arrest until the child’s prosecution and eventual conviction and sentencing. ”
During the last 2 years, Israel has become extremely harsh in punishments against stone throwing. In 2015, not only did the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) pass a very controversial law which stipulates that all stone-throwing Palestinians can be sentenced up to 20 years in prison, but the security cabinet also approved rules allowing Israeli police and soldiers to use live ammunition during protests, where in most cases Palestinians throw stones at Israeli soldiers and army vehicles.
Sohaib was sentenced to 31 days in prison and a fine of 500 NIS (135 USD) on charges of throwing stones.
The school, in a statement expressed outrage about the imprisonment of the child, saying that this arrest “will inflict serious and lasting damage on his mental and physical well being.”
“Israel is the only country in the world that automatically prosecutes children in military courts that lack basic and fundamental fair trial guarantees,” the school said, according to the PNN.
“A UNICEF report of 2013 concludes that the ill-treatment of children who come in contact with the (Israeli) military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized throughout the process, from the moment of arrest until the child’s prosecution and eventual conviction and sentencing. ”
During the last 2 years, Israel has become extremely harsh in punishments against stone throwing. In 2015, not only did the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) pass a very controversial law which stipulates that all stone-throwing Palestinians can be sentenced up to 20 years in prison, but the security cabinet also approved rules allowing Israeli police and soldiers to use live ammunition during protests, where in most cases Palestinians throw stones at Israeli soldiers and army vehicles.
Israeli military court of Salem sentenced the 16-year-old Palestinian girl Amal Qabaha, from Toura town, south of Jenin, to 18 months of actual imprisonment along with a fine estimated at NIS 20,000 which equals $6,000.
Local sources said that Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) charged the Palestinian minor with attempting to stab an Israeli soldier, which was refuted by eyewitnesses who were present at the time of arrest.
She was rounded up while passing through an Israeli military checkpoint near Toura town on August, 14, 2016 after the soldiers claimed she was planning a stabbing attack, the sources pointed out.
Local sources said that Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) charged the Palestinian minor with attempting to stab an Israeli soldier, which was refuted by eyewitnesses who were present at the time of arrest.
She was rounded up while passing through an Israeli military checkpoint near Toura town on August, 14, 2016 after the soldiers claimed she was planning a stabbing attack, the sources pointed out.
The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) released late Monday the injured Palestinian child Osama Zeidat, 14, on a bail of 25,000 Shekels.
Zeidat, from Bani Naim town east of al-Khalil, was moved late yesterday from Ramla prison clinic to Ramallah medical complex after his father vowed to attend his court sessions.
The newly-released child was arrested on Sep. 9, 2016 after Israeli forces opened fire at him for an alleged stabbing attempt in Kiryat Arba illegal settlement.
Following his arrest, Zeidat was transferred to Assaf Harofeh Hospital in very critical condition where he underwent several surgeries.
Zeidat is not the first Palestinian child to be arrested by Israeli forces for alleged anti-occupation attacks. The Jerusalemite child Ahmed Manasrah was arrested at the age of 13 under the similar pretext and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
Zeidat, from Bani Naim town east of al-Khalil, was moved late yesterday from Ramla prison clinic to Ramallah medical complex after his father vowed to attend his court sessions.
The newly-released child was arrested on Sep. 9, 2016 after Israeli forces opened fire at him for an alleged stabbing attempt in Kiryat Arba illegal settlement.
Following his arrest, Zeidat was transferred to Assaf Harofeh Hospital in very critical condition where he underwent several surgeries.
Zeidat is not the first Palestinian child to be arrested by Israeli forces for alleged anti-occupation attacks. The Jerusalemite child Ahmed Manasrah was arrested at the age of 13 under the similar pretext and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
29 jan 2017
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested on Sunday two Palestinian teens near Karni Shomron settlement which is close to Nablus city over an anti-occupation alleged stabbing attempt.
Israeli reports revealed that Jewish settlers stopped two Palestinian school students, a girl and a boy, on suspicion of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack.
Photos published by Israeli media sources show Jewish settlers directing their guns at both minors. They forced them to wait until the IOF soldiers reached the place and rounded them up.
Rights group identifies names of 2 minors kidnapped by Israeli forces
A human rights group on Sunday revealed the names and ages of two Palestinian children kidnapped by the Israeli occupation army near the West Bank province of Qalqilya at noontime.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) identified the arrestees as 15-year-old Marah Luay Je’idi, a native of Qalqilya, and 16-year-old Salem Hani Abu Hamada, a native of Nablus province.
The two minors are being reportedly interrogated at the Israeli Ariel detention center.
Israeli reports revealed that Jewish settlers stopped two Palestinian school students, a girl and a boy, on suspicion of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack.
Photos published by Israeli media sources show Jewish settlers directing their guns at both minors. They forced them to wait until the IOF soldiers reached the place and rounded them up.
Rights group identifies names of 2 minors kidnapped by Israeli forces
A human rights group on Sunday revealed the names and ages of two Palestinian children kidnapped by the Israeli occupation army near the West Bank province of Qalqilya at noontime.
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) identified the arrestees as 15-year-old Marah Luay Je’idi, a native of Qalqilya, and 16-year-old Salem Hani Abu Hamada, a native of Nablus province.
The two minors are being reportedly interrogated at the Israeli Ariel detention center.
