27 dec 2012
Jewish settlers attack 17-year old boy in Silwan district
Extremists Jewish settlers physically attacked a Jerusalemite kid named Abdul-Salam Qaimari, 17, as he was riding his bicycle on Wadi Rababa street in Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque.
Wadi Hilwa information center said the boy was admitted to Hadassah hospital in Issawiya district.
The boy, for his part, explained that he was on his way back home along with his eight-year old brother following a visit to their uncle's house in Beer Ayoub neighborhood when four settlers attacked him, pepper sprayed him and pushed him off a 10-meter mountain before fleeing the scene.
He added that three young men passing down the mountain spotted him and called an ambulance.
Many similar attacks on Palestinian young men have been reported lately in the West Bank and Jerusalem, but the Israeli police have not acted to bring the assailants to justice.
Wadi Hilwa information center said the boy was admitted to Hadassah hospital in Issawiya district.
The boy, for his part, explained that he was on his way back home along with his eight-year old brother following a visit to their uncle's house in Beer Ayoub neighborhood when four settlers attacked him, pepper sprayed him and pushed him off a 10-meter mountain before fleeing the scene.
He added that three young men passing down the mountain spotted him and called an ambulance.
Many similar attacks on Palestinian young men have been reported lately in the West Bank and Jerusalem, but the Israeli police have not acted to bring the assailants to justice.
24 dec 2012
IOF kidnap wounded child from court room
An 11-year old boy, Mohamed Abul-Hims, from Issawiya district in occupied Jerusalem was detained and interrogated on Sunday for four hours in Maskubia detention center, his father said.
The child's father said he told the Israeli interrogators in the room that one of his son's eyes was bleeding, but they did not care and continued questioning him and pressuring him to make a confession about throwing stones at soldiers, according to Wadi Hilwa information center.
The uncle of the boy also told the same center that the Israeli intelligence kidnapped his nephew Mohamed while he was in the magistrates' court in Jerusalem after the extension hearing against his brother was adjourned.
The uncle added that Mohamed was interrogated for more than an hour in Maskubia detention center before allowing his father to attend the interrogation of his son.
He noted that the interrogators hurled insults and vulgar remarks at the father and his son and accused Mohamed of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers in Issawiya district.
The child's father said he told the Israeli interrogators in the room that one of his son's eyes was bleeding, but they did not care and continued questioning him and pressuring him to make a confession about throwing stones at soldiers, according to Wadi Hilwa information center.
The uncle of the boy also told the same center that the Israeli intelligence kidnapped his nephew Mohamed while he was in the magistrates' court in Jerusalem after the extension hearing against his brother was adjourned.
The uncle added that Mohamed was interrogated for more than an hour in Maskubia detention center before allowing his father to attend the interrogation of his son.
He noted that the interrogators hurled insults and vulgar remarks at the father and his son and accused Mohamed of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers in Issawiya district.
23 dec 2012
Name: Sameh M.
Date of Incident: 19 November 2012
Age: 16
Location: Beit Furik, Nablus
Nature of incident: Detention
On 19 November 2012, a 16 year-old boy from Beit Furik, Nablus, was arrested by Israeli soldiers at 11:00 am, and accused of throwing stones.
On 19 November 2012, at around 11:00 a.m., Sameh was on his way home from school when he saw there were clashes with Israeli soldiers in his village. “I was scared to go home because in order to do so I needed to pass by the soldiers,” he recalls. At that moment, Sameh saw a soldier coming towards him. “He rushed towards me, pushed me and knocked me down. Then he started kicking me hard and was joined by two more soldiers. They beat me for about ten minutes.”
Sameh’s hands were then tied tightly behind his back with a single plastic cord. “I felt so much pain that I started screaming,” he says. He was blindfolded and taken to a military vehicle, where he was forced to sit on the metal floor. “Inside the jeep, the soldiers started beating me and slapping me. One of them called me a ‘despicable dog’,” reports Sameh.
Sameh was then taken to Huwwara interrogation and detention centre and was forced to sit on the ground for about two hours. After a brief medical check, he was transferred with two other children to Ari’el police station for interrogation. There, he had to wait for six hours while sitting on the ground. Since “there was no interrogator available”, the boys were taken back to Huwwara.
Sameh spent the night in detention and the following day he was taken for interrogation. Prior to questioning, Sameh was not given an opportunity to consult with a lawyer and says he was not informed of his rights. Neither of his parents were present, a right generally afforded to Israeli settler children when questioned. “The interrogator said I should confess to throwing stones. I told him I did not throw any stones and he slapped me hard and ordered me to shut up. Then he said 'I'll make you confess you threw stones.’ He ordered me to get up and when I did, he tightened the shackles around my feet and I fell down. He started pressing on the shackles so hard I felt pain. He then kicked me and ordered me to get up. He asked me again if I had thrown stones and I denied it. I was crying. When he realised I would not confess, he brought a long shovel stick and hit me on my legs. Then I screamed and confessed, 'I threw stones, I threw stones.'”
The interrogator wrote Sameh’s statement and ordered him to sign. “I don’t know if the statement was written in Hebrew or Arabic, because he did not let me read it. He would only let me see the space where I should sign,” says Sameh.
Following his interrogation, Sameh was transferred to Megiddo prison, inside Israel, in violation of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits such transfers. Sameh reports being strip searched on arrival.
Date of Incident: 19 November 2012
Age: 16
Location: Beit Furik, Nablus
Nature of incident: Detention
On 19 November 2012, a 16 year-old boy from Beit Furik, Nablus, was arrested by Israeli soldiers at 11:00 am, and accused of throwing stones.
On 19 November 2012, at around 11:00 a.m., Sameh was on his way home from school when he saw there were clashes with Israeli soldiers in his village. “I was scared to go home because in order to do so I needed to pass by the soldiers,” he recalls. At that moment, Sameh saw a soldier coming towards him. “He rushed towards me, pushed me and knocked me down. Then he started kicking me hard and was joined by two more soldiers. They beat me for about ten minutes.”
Sameh’s hands were then tied tightly behind his back with a single plastic cord. “I felt so much pain that I started screaming,” he says. He was blindfolded and taken to a military vehicle, where he was forced to sit on the metal floor. “Inside the jeep, the soldiers started beating me and slapping me. One of them called me a ‘despicable dog’,” reports Sameh.
Sameh was then taken to Huwwara interrogation and detention centre and was forced to sit on the ground for about two hours. After a brief medical check, he was transferred with two other children to Ari’el police station for interrogation. There, he had to wait for six hours while sitting on the ground. Since “there was no interrogator available”, the boys were taken back to Huwwara.
Sameh spent the night in detention and the following day he was taken for interrogation. Prior to questioning, Sameh was not given an opportunity to consult with a lawyer and says he was not informed of his rights. Neither of his parents were present, a right generally afforded to Israeli settler children when questioned. “The interrogator said I should confess to throwing stones. I told him I did not throw any stones and he slapped me hard and ordered me to shut up. Then he said 'I'll make you confess you threw stones.’ He ordered me to get up and when I did, he tightened the shackles around my feet and I fell down. He started pressing on the shackles so hard I felt pain. He then kicked me and ordered me to get up. He asked me again if I had thrown stones and I denied it. I was crying. When he realised I would not confess, he brought a long shovel stick and hit me on my legs. Then I screamed and confessed, 'I threw stones, I threw stones.'”
The interrogator wrote Sameh’s statement and ordered him to sign. “I don’t know if the statement was written in Hebrew or Arabic, because he did not let me read it. He would only let me see the space where I should sign,” says Sameh.
Following his interrogation, Sameh was transferred to Megiddo prison, inside Israel, in violation of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits such transfers. Sameh reports being strip searched on arrival.
17 dec 2012
Name: Abdullah B.
Date of Incident: 1 December 2012
Age: 14
Location: Mediterranean Sea, Gaza
Nature of Incident: Restriction on fishing
On 1 December 2012, a 14-year-old boy, his father and other relatives are fired upon by an Israeli gunboat and later detained whilst fishing within Israel’s six nautical mile limit.
Abdullah lives with his family in Gaza city. He works with his father and his older brother as a fisherman. “My father has a small boat and we live off the fish we catch. We live in very difficult economic conditions. My father and my brother earn around 1,500 shekels per month [around US $ 390], and that is not enough to support our big family,” Abdullah explains.
On Saturday, 1 December 2012, Abdullah, his father and brother left the house at around 5:00 a.m. to go fishing. At the port, they ran into Abdullah’s brother-in-law and invited him to come along with them to fish. “We headed to an area called al-Waha, about four-and-a-half nautical miles from the shore,” says Abdullah. “After the recent truce with Israel, we are now allowed to fish within six nautical miles. However, my father doesn’t like to risk going to the limit because the Israeli gunboats arrest and shoot at the fishermen, and sabotage their nets and boats,” he adds.
“At around 9:30 a.m., we saw an Israeli gunboat chasing and shooting at the fishing boats that were about six nautical miles from the shore. My father moved the boat closer to the shore so we wouldn’t be shot at, but then the Israeli boat stopped shooting and went back to the limit. All the fishermen started going back to fish, and we did as well.” Abdullah says they were again about four-and-a-half nautical miles from the shore, when they saw two Israeli rubber boats approaching them at high speed. “They started shooting at us and I got really scared because the bullets were hitting the water around us and our boat,” he recalls. “My father made signs to them indicating that we would go to the shore, but the soldiers kept shooting at us.”
Abdullah’s father finally stopped the boat and they were ordered to take their clothes off. “I was so terrified I even started crying,” says Abdullah. “This was the first time I experienced such a thing.” The fishermen were transferred to the rubber boats, and then to a bigger boat. Once on board, “my hands were tied behind my back with three plastic cords and I was blindfolded. I was forced to sit on the floor next to my father, and I was very cold because I was still in my underwear. [...] Now and then they would open fire and bring over more fishermen.”
Abdullah estimates they travelled for about two hours to Ashdod port. On arrival they were given clothes and slippers to put on. Nine fishermen had been arrested in total. They were made to wait in a room where they were given food, and then they were taken for a brief medical examination. “After that, I was taken to another room, where a man in civilian clothes in his thirties asked me for my name and my age in Arabic. He also asked me where I live. He then started asking me about my brother-in-law. ‘He works with Hamas,’ he said, and I told him I didn’t know where he works.”
After the interrogation, the fishermen were made to wait in the room for many hours. Abdullah fell asleep from exhaustion. “At around 11:00 p.m., a soldier came and ordered us to get into a bus. They untied us and removed the blindfolds, and replaced the ties with handcuffs around my hands and ankles. The rings around my ankles were connected with a chain. They took us to Erez Crossing Point and a soldier ordered us to walk in a line, not in zigzag, or they would shoot us.” At Erez, they were asked questions about their detention and interrogation by the Palestinian authorities.
Abdullah arrived home at around 12:30 p.m. “I was so relieved,” he says. “The most scary part was when they shot at us, and when the rubber boat approached us and opened fire at our boat. At that moment, I felt I was going to die. The soldiers looked so scary with those black masks.” Abdullah’s brother-in-law is still detained and Abdullah says they don’t know why. “He works as a cook in a restaurant affiliated with Hamas, but he works for the money. He is not a militant. He goes fishing to improve his living conditions; to earn 20 more shekels [around US $ 5] to support his family.”
Abdullah adds: “The Israeli army confiscated our boat. The rubber boats towed it to Ashdod. With that, our only source of income has been cut off. Now my father, my brother and I are unemployed.”
Date of Incident: 1 December 2012
Age: 14
Location: Mediterranean Sea, Gaza
Nature of Incident: Restriction on fishing
On 1 December 2012, a 14-year-old boy, his father and other relatives are fired upon by an Israeli gunboat and later detained whilst fishing within Israel’s six nautical mile limit.
Abdullah lives with his family in Gaza city. He works with his father and his older brother as a fisherman. “My father has a small boat and we live off the fish we catch. We live in very difficult economic conditions. My father and my brother earn around 1,500 shekels per month [around US $ 390], and that is not enough to support our big family,” Abdullah explains.
On Saturday, 1 December 2012, Abdullah, his father and brother left the house at around 5:00 a.m. to go fishing. At the port, they ran into Abdullah’s brother-in-law and invited him to come along with them to fish. “We headed to an area called al-Waha, about four-and-a-half nautical miles from the shore,” says Abdullah. “After the recent truce with Israel, we are now allowed to fish within six nautical miles. However, my father doesn’t like to risk going to the limit because the Israeli gunboats arrest and shoot at the fishermen, and sabotage their nets and boats,” he adds.
“At around 9:30 a.m., we saw an Israeli gunboat chasing and shooting at the fishing boats that were about six nautical miles from the shore. My father moved the boat closer to the shore so we wouldn’t be shot at, but then the Israeli boat stopped shooting and went back to the limit. All the fishermen started going back to fish, and we did as well.” Abdullah says they were again about four-and-a-half nautical miles from the shore, when they saw two Israeli rubber boats approaching them at high speed. “They started shooting at us and I got really scared because the bullets were hitting the water around us and our boat,” he recalls. “My father made signs to them indicating that we would go to the shore, but the soldiers kept shooting at us.”
Abdullah’s father finally stopped the boat and they were ordered to take their clothes off. “I was so terrified I even started crying,” says Abdullah. “This was the first time I experienced such a thing.” The fishermen were transferred to the rubber boats, and then to a bigger boat. Once on board, “my hands were tied behind my back with three plastic cords and I was blindfolded. I was forced to sit on the floor next to my father, and I was very cold because I was still in my underwear. [...] Now and then they would open fire and bring over more fishermen.”
Abdullah estimates they travelled for about two hours to Ashdod port. On arrival they were given clothes and slippers to put on. Nine fishermen had been arrested in total. They were made to wait in a room where they were given food, and then they were taken for a brief medical examination. “After that, I was taken to another room, where a man in civilian clothes in his thirties asked me for my name and my age in Arabic. He also asked me where I live. He then started asking me about my brother-in-law. ‘He works with Hamas,’ he said, and I told him I didn’t know where he works.”
After the interrogation, the fishermen were made to wait in the room for many hours. Abdullah fell asleep from exhaustion. “At around 11:00 p.m., a soldier came and ordered us to get into a bus. They untied us and removed the blindfolds, and replaced the ties with handcuffs around my hands and ankles. The rings around my ankles were connected with a chain. They took us to Erez Crossing Point and a soldier ordered us to walk in a line, not in zigzag, or they would shoot us.” At Erez, they were asked questions about their detention and interrogation by the Palestinian authorities.
Abdullah arrived home at around 12:30 p.m. “I was so relieved,” he says. “The most scary part was when they shot at us, and when the rubber boat approached us and opened fire at our boat. At that moment, I felt I was going to die. The soldiers looked so scary with those black masks.” Abdullah’s brother-in-law is still detained and Abdullah says they don’t know why. “He works as a cook in a restaurant affiliated with Hamas, but he works for the money. He is not a militant. He goes fishing to improve his living conditions; to earn 20 more shekels [around US $ 5] to support his family.”
Abdullah adds: “The Israeli army confiscated our boat. The rubber boats towed it to Ashdod. With that, our only source of income has been cut off. Now my father, my brother and I are unemployed.”
Israeli Authorities Transfer Two Children to Military Court
Israeli occupation authorities transferred two minor brothers from Kufrdan village, west of Jenin to a military court.
The parents of the two children, Ehsan, 10, and Rajeh Abed, 12, revealed that Israeli authorities extended the detention period of their sons in Majedu prison and transferred them to a military court which to be held on Thursday.
It's worth mentioning that Israeli forces arrested the two brothers while being in an agricultural land in Marj bin A'mer plain few days ago.
The occupation puts 10-year-old child on trial
The occupation authorities have transferred today two children from the village of Kafr Dan west of Jenin, to a military Court for trial, to join dozens of other Palestinian children held in the Israeli occupation jails.
The family of the two detained children appealed to human rights organizations and to the international movement for the defense of children to immediately intervene and release the children.
According to a press statement issued by the family, the detention of Ihsan Abed (10 years) and his brother Ayman Rajeh Abed (12 years), who had been held in Megiddo Prison, was extended by the occupation authorities that have transferred them to the military court on Thursday, under false and flimsy pretexts
The family also revealed that occupation forces had arrested the two brothers from the agricultural lands in the area of Marj Ibn Amer a few days ago, and then had taken them to an unknown destination.
For its part, the international movement for the defense of children said that hundreds of Palestinian children, under the age of 18, are held in the Israeli occupation prisons, and are exposed to different forms of torture.
The parents of the two children, Ehsan, 10, and Rajeh Abed, 12, revealed that Israeli authorities extended the detention period of their sons in Majedu prison and transferred them to a military court which to be held on Thursday.
It's worth mentioning that Israeli forces arrested the two brothers while being in an agricultural land in Marj bin A'mer plain few days ago.
The occupation puts 10-year-old child on trial
The occupation authorities have transferred today two children from the village of Kafr Dan west of Jenin, to a military Court for trial, to join dozens of other Palestinian children held in the Israeli occupation jails.
The family of the two detained children appealed to human rights organizations and to the international movement for the defense of children to immediately intervene and release the children.
According to a press statement issued by the family, the detention of Ihsan Abed (10 years) and his brother Ayman Rajeh Abed (12 years), who had been held in Megiddo Prison, was extended by the occupation authorities that have transferred them to the military court on Thursday, under false and flimsy pretexts
The family also revealed that occupation forces had arrested the two brothers from the agricultural lands in the area of Marj Ibn Amer a few days ago, and then had taken them to an unknown destination.
For its part, the international movement for the defense of children said that hundreds of Palestinian children, under the age of 18, are held in the Israeli occupation prisons, and are exposed to different forms of torture.
14 dec 2012
Settlers Attack Children in Hebron
International Solidarity Movement (ISM) said in a press release that three male settlers speculated to be between seventeen and nineteen years old attacked two Palestinian children in Hebron governorate.
The 9-year-old Younes Azzeh was kicked in the shins, thighs and generally roughed up and his 14-year-old sister Rahad Azzeh was accosted by a hurled stone hitting her lower back.
The settlers attacked the two Palestinians while they were walking home after school at around one o'clock in the afternoon. It's worth mentioning that their house is near to Ramat Yeshay settlement which has historically caused numerous problems for Hashem Azzeh's family, who is the father of the children.
The ISM also said the Azzeh family is of the few Palestinians allowed to walk on the road close to where the incident took place besides Zionists. The incident took place around checkpoint 57 in Tel Rumeida, this means that Israeli soldiers were nearby while the aggression took place.
The 9-year-old Younes Azzeh was kicked in the shins, thighs and generally roughed up and his 14-year-old sister Rahad Azzeh was accosted by a hurled stone hitting her lower back.
The settlers attacked the two Palestinians while they were walking home after school at around one o'clock in the afternoon. It's worth mentioning that their house is near to Ramat Yeshay settlement which has historically caused numerous problems for Hashem Azzeh's family, who is the father of the children.
The ISM also said the Azzeh family is of the few Palestinians allowed to walk on the road close to where the incident took place besides Zionists. The incident took place around checkpoint 57 in Tel Rumeida, this means that Israeli soldiers were nearby while the aggression took place.
12 dec 2012
Name: Mohammad B.
Date of Incident: 1 December 2012
Age: 17
Location: Mediterranean, Gaza
Nature of Incident: Restriction on fishing
On 1 December 2012, a 17-year-old fisherman and his crewmates are stopped by an Israeli gunboat, five nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. The fishermen are detained and their boat is confiscated.
Seventeen-year-old Mohammad told his cousin he had nothing to do, so his cousin offered to take him fishing. “I agreed to work for my cousin for about 20 shekels per day ($5),” says Mohammad. “It’s better than sitting around and doing nothing. I was taught to fish as a little child because my father was a fisherman before he became a policeman and he used to take me to sea.”
On 1 December 2012, at around 5:00 a.m., Mohammad, his cousin and three other crew members headed out to sea to fish about five nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. “When we arrived five nautical miles off the coast, I could see Israeli gunboats about a mile ahead, at six nautical miles off the coast.” As the fishermen were within the new six mile fishing limit, neither Mohammad nor his crew mates were concerned. “At around 9:00 a.m. we threw the net into the sea and we were surrounded by many other fishing boats. Suddenly, I saw an Israeli gunboat chasing fishing boats about half-a-mile ahead of us. As the gunboat approached us we started to head back to shore. The gunboat approached to within 20 metres and ordered us to stop our engine,” recalls Mohammad.
“There were many soldiers on the gunboat pointing their weapons at us. Then, four inflatable boats approached and surrounded us. There were around 12 soldiers in each boat dressed in black uniforms with their faces covered. One inflatable approached and we were ordered to stop the engine in Arabic or they would shoot at it. Then suddenly, a soldier shot one bullet directly at the engine,” recalls Mohammad. “The engine stopped and we were ordered to take our clothes off and get into the inflatable. We all stripped down to our underwear; it was really cold that day. We got wet travelling in the inflatable which made us even colder,” says Mohammad. Meanwhile, another inflatable towed their fishing boat away.
Mohammad and the fishermen were transferred to the gunboat, which was now about six nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Once on board, their hands were tied behind their backs with plastic ties and they were blindfolded. At around 11:00 a.m., the fishermen arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod. On arrival at the port, soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their underwear. “For about 15 minutes soldiers stood their laughing at us,” recalls Mohammad. “I felt so humiliated.” After 15 minutes the fishermen were given some clothes and put inside a trailer which had mattresses on the floor. They were then given a meal which Mohammad describes as “disgusting”. After eating the fishermen were each given a quick medical check. Following the check, the fishermen were individually interrogated.
“The interrogator was a bald man in civilian clothes,” says Mohammad. “He spoke fluent Arabic.” The interrogator asked Mohammad general questions about what he did, and about his family. Following the interrogation, Mohammad was taken back to the trailer and his hands were tied. At around 10:00 p.m. the fishermen were put in a bus and driven to Erez Crossing, on the border with Gaza. “A soldier took off our handcuffs and told us to walk in line or they would shoot us.” On arrival back in Gaza the fishermen were questioned by Palestinian internal security before arriving home at 12:00 a.m. “The fishing boat was confiscated and we are all now unemployed. I won’t go fishing again anyway, because of the humiliation and the terror they put us through,” says Mohammad.
Date of Incident: 1 December 2012
Age: 17
Location: Mediterranean, Gaza
Nature of Incident: Restriction on fishing
On 1 December 2012, a 17-year-old fisherman and his crewmates are stopped by an Israeli gunboat, five nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. The fishermen are detained and their boat is confiscated.
Seventeen-year-old Mohammad told his cousin he had nothing to do, so his cousin offered to take him fishing. “I agreed to work for my cousin for about 20 shekels per day ($5),” says Mohammad. “It’s better than sitting around and doing nothing. I was taught to fish as a little child because my father was a fisherman before he became a policeman and he used to take me to sea.”
On 1 December 2012, at around 5:00 a.m., Mohammad, his cousin and three other crew members headed out to sea to fish about five nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. “When we arrived five nautical miles off the coast, I could see Israeli gunboats about a mile ahead, at six nautical miles off the coast.” As the fishermen were within the new six mile fishing limit, neither Mohammad nor his crew mates were concerned. “At around 9:00 a.m. we threw the net into the sea and we were surrounded by many other fishing boats. Suddenly, I saw an Israeli gunboat chasing fishing boats about half-a-mile ahead of us. As the gunboat approached us we started to head back to shore. The gunboat approached to within 20 metres and ordered us to stop our engine,” recalls Mohammad.
“There were many soldiers on the gunboat pointing their weapons at us. Then, four inflatable boats approached and surrounded us. There were around 12 soldiers in each boat dressed in black uniforms with their faces covered. One inflatable approached and we were ordered to stop the engine in Arabic or they would shoot at it. Then suddenly, a soldier shot one bullet directly at the engine,” recalls Mohammad. “The engine stopped and we were ordered to take our clothes off and get into the inflatable. We all stripped down to our underwear; it was really cold that day. We got wet travelling in the inflatable which made us even colder,” says Mohammad. Meanwhile, another inflatable towed their fishing boat away.
Mohammad and the fishermen were transferred to the gunboat, which was now about six nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Once on board, their hands were tied behind their backs with plastic ties and they were blindfolded. At around 11:00 a.m., the fishermen arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod. On arrival at the port, soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their underwear. “For about 15 minutes soldiers stood their laughing at us,” recalls Mohammad. “I felt so humiliated.” After 15 minutes the fishermen were given some clothes and put inside a trailer which had mattresses on the floor. They were then given a meal which Mohammad describes as “disgusting”. After eating the fishermen were each given a quick medical check. Following the check, the fishermen were individually interrogated.
“The interrogator was a bald man in civilian clothes,” says Mohammad. “He spoke fluent Arabic.” The interrogator asked Mohammad general questions about what he did, and about his family. Following the interrogation, Mohammad was taken back to the trailer and his hands were tied. At around 10:00 p.m. the fishermen were put in a bus and driven to Erez Crossing, on the border with Gaza. “A soldier took off our handcuffs and told us to walk in line or they would shoot us.” On arrival back in Gaza the fishermen were questioned by Palestinian internal security before arriving home at 12:00 a.m. “The fishing boat was confiscated and we are all now unemployed. I won’t go fishing again anyway, because of the humiliation and the terror they put us through,” says Mohammad.
11 dec 2012
Israeli soldiers arrest Jerusalemite woman, her two children
Inhabitants in a suburb in the Mount of Olives in occupied Jerusalem confronted Israeli occupation forces who tried to arrest a child for allegedly throwing stones at a settler’s car.
Eyewitnesses said that the confrontations on Monday night led to the arrest of Nabila Al-Sa’o, 38, and her two daughters Tamara, 16, and Tamrelin, 15, along with two other citizens.
They said that the soldiers tried to arrest the lady’s child but when she resisted they sprayed her with pepper gas and took her away along with her two daughters.
The witnesses said that the soldiers savagely broke into the woman’s home after firing stun grenades and teargas canisters inside it. They added that the soldiers broke the windows of many houses in the suburb and assaulted a number of citizens.
Eyewitnesses said that the confrontations on Monday night led to the arrest of Nabila Al-Sa’o, 38, and her two daughters Tamara, 16, and Tamrelin, 15, along with two other citizens.
They said that the soldiers tried to arrest the lady’s child but when she resisted they sprayed her with pepper gas and took her away along with her two daughters.
The witnesses said that the soldiers savagely broke into the woman’s home after firing stun grenades and teargas canisters inside it. They added that the soldiers broke the windows of many houses in the suburb and assaulted a number of citizens.
12 feb 2012
The international organization for the defense of children has said that the Israeli occupation soldiers savagely beat up a Palestinian child after breaking both his legs.
The organization quoted the 16-year-old boy Mahmoud Qatna as saying that he was heading to an area near the separation wall in his village Beit Sorik along with a number of his friends when the soldiers surprised them.
He said that the soldiers arrested him along with two of his friends, threw him on his stomach on the ground and started beating him savagely, adding that before that he was hit with a rubber bullet in his left leg fired by those soldiers.
Qatna said that he was screaming out of pain and told the soldiers that his leg had broken but they did not heed his screams and continued to beat him.
He said that the soldiers took him to an asphalted road where he was beaten anew then he was carried to a roadblock where he was held blindfolded and handcuffed under the rain for half an hour.
The boy said that he was taken to an army base where an interrogator questioned him about going to the wall, adding that the questioning took place at midnight. He said that the interrogator accused him of throwing stones at the soldiers, which he absolutely denied.
Qatna said he was then taken to Ofer jail then to hospital the next morning where the doctors discovered that both his legs were broken and where he was served food and allowed to the bathroom for the first time since his arrest.
Qatna was returned to Ofer jail where he was beaten on the way back then held for 16 days during which he was taken to court five times. In the fifth hearing he was released on bail pending trial.
The organization quoted the 16-year-old boy Mahmoud Qatna as saying that he was heading to an area near the separation wall in his village Beit Sorik along with a number of his friends when the soldiers surprised them.
He said that the soldiers arrested him along with two of his friends, threw him on his stomach on the ground and started beating him savagely, adding that before that he was hit with a rubber bullet in his left leg fired by those soldiers.
Qatna said that he was screaming out of pain and told the soldiers that his leg had broken but they did not heed his screams and continued to beat him.
He said that the soldiers took him to an asphalted road where he was beaten anew then he was carried to a roadblock where he was held blindfolded and handcuffed under the rain for half an hour.
The boy said that he was taken to an army base where an interrogator questioned him about going to the wall, adding that the questioning took place at midnight. He said that the interrogator accused him of throwing stones at the soldiers, which he absolutely denied.
Qatna said he was then taken to Ofer jail then to hospital the next morning where the doctors discovered that both his legs were broken and where he was served food and allowed to the bathroom for the first time since his arrest.
Qatna was returned to Ofer jail where he was beaten on the way back then held for 16 days during which he was taken to court five times. In the fifth hearing he was released on bail pending trial.
6 dec 2012
Name: Mujahed S.
Date of Incident: 24 September 2012
Age: 17
Location: Beita village, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 24 September 2012, a 17-year-old boy from Beita village, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint at the entrance to his village and held in solitary confinement in Israel’s Al Jalame prison for 29 days.
“At around midnight, I was on my way home from work in Israel with my brother,” recalls 17-year-old Mujahed, who is studying and works to help support his family. “When we arrived at the entrance to the village we were stopped at an Israeli military checkpoint and asked for our I.D.s.” After their I.D. cards were checked, Mujahed was told that he was under arrest, but he was not told why. “Soldiers tied my hands behind my back with two plastic cords that were very tight and blindfolded me. They put me in one of the jeeps and made me sit on the metal floor, without telling me where they were taking me.”
The jeep travelled for about 15 minutes before arriving at Huwwara interrogation centre. “They pulled me out of the jeep and made me sit on the ground for about three hours. It was really cold. I asked them to get me some water to drink, and one of them brought a bottle of water and put it close to my mouth and ordered me to drink, but it was empty. He laughed and the others laughed and made fun of me. He did this three times. They did not give me any water,” recalls Mujahed. About three hours later a man approached and kicked me hard on my legs with his combat boots and removed the blindfold.” Mujahed asked why he had been arrested, but he was told to shut up. He was then taken into a room and strip searched. “I was completely naked and was very ashamed standing in front of two soldiers. It was a big humiliation,” recalls Mujahed.
Later that day Mujahed was transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre in Israel. The transfer and detention of Mujahed in Israel violates articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory. On arrival at Al Jalame, Mujahed was handed over to an interrogator who introduced himself as “Nazir”. The interrogator told Mujahed that he had the right to consult with a lawyer, but he was denied access to a lawyer for 15 days. “He accused me of carrying out security offences in general, without specifying any details. Later he accused me of throwing stones and Molotov cocktails,” recalls Mujahed, who was interrogated numerous times for up to six hours whilst tied by the hands and feet to a chair.
In total, Mujahed spent 52 days in Al Jalame, 29 days of which were in solitary confinement. During this time he was held in a number of different cells. “All the cells looked the same but some were bigger than others. They all lacked windows. The lights were turned on the whole time. Also the toilets had a horrible smell,” recalls Mujahed.
On or about 15 November, Mujahed was transferred to Megiddo prison, also inside Israel, where he is currently detained.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail
Date of Incident: 24 September 2012
Age: 17
Location: Beita village, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 24 September 2012, a 17-year-old boy from Beita village, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint at the entrance to his village and held in solitary confinement in Israel’s Al Jalame prison for 29 days.
“At around midnight, I was on my way home from work in Israel with my brother,” recalls 17-year-old Mujahed, who is studying and works to help support his family. “When we arrived at the entrance to the village we were stopped at an Israeli military checkpoint and asked for our I.D.s.” After their I.D. cards were checked, Mujahed was told that he was under arrest, but he was not told why. “Soldiers tied my hands behind my back with two plastic cords that were very tight and blindfolded me. They put me in one of the jeeps and made me sit on the metal floor, without telling me where they were taking me.”
The jeep travelled for about 15 minutes before arriving at Huwwara interrogation centre. “They pulled me out of the jeep and made me sit on the ground for about three hours. It was really cold. I asked them to get me some water to drink, and one of them brought a bottle of water and put it close to my mouth and ordered me to drink, but it was empty. He laughed and the others laughed and made fun of me. He did this three times. They did not give me any water,” recalls Mujahed. About three hours later a man approached and kicked me hard on my legs with his combat boots and removed the blindfold.” Mujahed asked why he had been arrested, but he was told to shut up. He was then taken into a room and strip searched. “I was completely naked and was very ashamed standing in front of two soldiers. It was a big humiliation,” recalls Mujahed.
Later that day Mujahed was transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre in Israel. The transfer and detention of Mujahed in Israel violates articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory. On arrival at Al Jalame, Mujahed was handed over to an interrogator who introduced himself as “Nazir”. The interrogator told Mujahed that he had the right to consult with a lawyer, but he was denied access to a lawyer for 15 days. “He accused me of carrying out security offences in general, without specifying any details. Later he accused me of throwing stones and Molotov cocktails,” recalls Mujahed, who was interrogated numerous times for up to six hours whilst tied by the hands and feet to a chair.
In total, Mujahed spent 52 days in Al Jalame, 29 days of which were in solitary confinement. During this time he was held in a number of different cells. “All the cells looked the same but some were bigger than others. They all lacked windows. The lights were turned on the whole time. Also the toilets had a horrible smell,” recalls Mujahed.
On or about 15 November, Mujahed was transferred to Megiddo prison, also inside Israel, where he is currently detained.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail
5 dec 2012
Names: Naim and Ali B.
Date of Incident: 29 November 2012
Ages: 16 and 17
Location: Mediterranean Sea, Gaza
Nature of Incident: Restriction on fishing
On 29 November 2012, two boys are fired upon by Israeli patrol boats and detained for two hours whilst fishing within Israel’s new six nautical mile fishing limit. This case appears to constitute a violation by Israel of the ceasefire agreement concluded on 22 November.
Naim and Ali are cousins and live in ash-Shate'a refugee camp in Gaza. The boys come from a family of fishermen. “I go fishing every morning with my uncles and relatives and earn around 15 to 20 shekels a day [around US$ 5], depending on how much fish we catch,” says Ali.
“Before the recent Israeli offensive on Gaza, the area designated for fishing was three nautical miles. After the ceasefire agreement on 21 November, it was extended to six nautical miles. However, there hasn’t been a big difference in the quantity and quality of the fish we catch. There are plenty of fish about 11 nautical miles off the Gaza shore, but not within 10 nautical miles,” says Ali.
On Thursday, 29 November 2012, Ali and Naim went fishing as usual with their relatives at around 5:00 a.m. At about 10:30 a.m. they were returning to the port when they were intercepted by Israeli patrol boats. “We were about four nautical miles from the shore when we saw four Israeli rubber boats chasing and shooting at us,” says Ali. “Four big gunboats were behind them. Since we were within the permitted area, at first we thought the rubber boats were just chasing us away. But less than a minute later, they surrounded us and kept shooting. I tried to protect the engine by putting my arms around it, because I’ve heard from other fishermen who have been arrested that the Israeli soldiers shot at their engines.”
Eventually, their engine was shot, and the soldiers “threw a stun grenade on our boat which made a horrible sound and created thick smoke.” The fishermen were ordered to gather in one place and take their clothes off. The soldiers boarded their boat, tied their hands behind their backs, and transferred them to the rubber boats, where they were blindfolded.
Date of Incident: 29 November 2012
Ages: 16 and 17
Location: Mediterranean Sea, Gaza
Nature of Incident: Restriction on fishing
On 29 November 2012, two boys are fired upon by Israeli patrol boats and detained for two hours whilst fishing within Israel’s new six nautical mile fishing limit. This case appears to constitute a violation by Israel of the ceasefire agreement concluded on 22 November.
Naim and Ali are cousins and live in ash-Shate'a refugee camp in Gaza. The boys come from a family of fishermen. “I go fishing every morning with my uncles and relatives and earn around 15 to 20 shekels a day [around US$ 5], depending on how much fish we catch,” says Ali.
“Before the recent Israeli offensive on Gaza, the area designated for fishing was three nautical miles. After the ceasefire agreement on 21 November, it was extended to six nautical miles. However, there hasn’t been a big difference in the quantity and quality of the fish we catch. There are plenty of fish about 11 nautical miles off the Gaza shore, but not within 10 nautical miles,” says Ali.
On Thursday, 29 November 2012, Ali and Naim went fishing as usual with their relatives at around 5:00 a.m. At about 10:30 a.m. they were returning to the port when they were intercepted by Israeli patrol boats. “We were about four nautical miles from the shore when we saw four Israeli rubber boats chasing and shooting at us,” says Ali. “Four big gunboats were behind them. Since we were within the permitted area, at first we thought the rubber boats were just chasing us away. But less than a minute later, they surrounded us and kept shooting. I tried to protect the engine by putting my arms around it, because I’ve heard from other fishermen who have been arrested that the Israeli soldiers shot at their engines.”
Eventually, their engine was shot, and the soldiers “threw a stun grenade on our boat which made a horrible sound and created thick smoke.” The fishermen were ordered to gather in one place and take their clothes off. The soldiers boarded their boat, tied their hands behind their backs, and transferred them to the rubber boats, where they were blindfolded.
Naim, Ali and the other fishermen were then taken to a bigger patrol boat. Once on board, “an Israeli soldier approached me and asked me for my name and age in Arabic. ‘Why did you come here?’ he asked. ‘To fish and make a living,’ I replied. My hands were still tied behind my back.
They were hurting so much, that I told the soldier I could not stand the pain anymore. Another soldier came and cut the tie off. Maybe he realised I was young and that's why he did it,” says Ali. With his hands free, Ali lowered his blindfold to see where he was.
“We were surrounded by more than 20 soldiers,” he recalls. “At that point, one of the soldiers kicked me so hard that I slid about three metres. I felt so much pain I started crying.” Ali’s hands were immediately re-tied, and he was blindfolded again. “I was really scared, not to mention how cold I was because I was wearing nothing but my underwear.”
About two hours later, at around 12:30 p.m., Naim, Ali and the others were transferred back to their fishing boat. “Once I removed the blindfold, I found myself back on the boat with my uncles and my cousins,” recalls Ali. “The engine had been hit by more than 10 bullets and did not start. We were towed by another fishing boat.”
“We have lost the boat and are now unemployed. The boat needs a new engine, which costs around 5,000 US dollars. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I dropped out of school to be a fisherman. Fishing is the only thing I can do.”
They were hurting so much, that I told the soldier I could not stand the pain anymore. Another soldier came and cut the tie off. Maybe he realised I was young and that's why he did it,” says Ali. With his hands free, Ali lowered his blindfold to see where he was.
“We were surrounded by more than 20 soldiers,” he recalls. “At that point, one of the soldiers kicked me so hard that I slid about three metres. I felt so much pain I started crying.” Ali’s hands were immediately re-tied, and he was blindfolded again. “I was really scared, not to mention how cold I was because I was wearing nothing but my underwear.”
About two hours later, at around 12:30 p.m., Naim, Ali and the others were transferred back to their fishing boat. “Once I removed the blindfold, I found myself back on the boat with my uncles and my cousins,” recalls Ali. “The engine had been hit by more than 10 bullets and did not start. We were towed by another fishing boat.”
“We have lost the boat and are now unemployed. The boat needs a new engine, which costs around 5,000 US dollars. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I dropped out of school to be a fisherman. Fishing is the only thing I can do.”
Name: Adham D.
Date of Incident: 14 October 2012
Age: 16
Location: Nablus, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 14 October 2012, a 16-year-old boy from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers and transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, inside Israel, where he is held for 12 days in solitary confinement.
Sixteen-year-old Adham and his friend Yaser went to the Israeli military co-ordination office near Nablus to apply for a permit to work inside Israel. They submitted their I.D. cards and about an hour later they were asked to enter the building where they were searched and detained. “Shortly after that they tied my hands from the front with two plastic ties and blindfolded me. They never told us why they were arresting us,” says Adham. The two boys were then taken on foot to Huwwara interrogation centre. After being searched again the boys were detained in separate cells. “One of the soldiers kept insulting me and calling me a donkey. He also insulted my mother,” says Adham.
At around 2:30 p.m. Adham was transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, inside Israel. Adham’s transfer and subsequent detention inside Israel was unlawful by virtue of Articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory. On arrival at Al Jalame, Adham was strip searched and placed inside Cell No. 36. “It is very small and only has room for one matress,” says Adham. “The mattress was very dirty. The toilet had a horrible smell and there were two holes in the ceiling that allowed freezing cold air in. The lights were dim yellow and left on the whole time. I spent 12 days in this cell. I could not tell day from night. I could not tell what time it was. I did not even see the prison guard who brought me food and passed it through a gap in the door. I did not sleep at all on the first night because I was so scared.”
The following morning Adham reports having his hands and feet shackled and being made to wear blacked-out glasses before being taken to an interrogation room. The interrogator made Adham sit in a small chair and then tied his hands and feet to the chair. “It was really painful to sit in this position,” says Adham, who was not given access to a lawyer or his parents, rights Israeli children, including those living in the settlements, are entitled to. Adham was accused of throwing stones and Molotov cocktails which he denied. “He interrogated me everyday, for two to three hours, for 11 days. On the third day a doctor came to see me and asked me a few questions about my health but did not examine me physically. I was in bad shape on the fourth day of the interrogation. It was really hard to spend days and nights in the cell, not to mention that the interrogator told me all my friends had provided confessions against me. This is why I decided to confess,” says Adham. “Even though I confessed on the fourth day, I was interrogated for 11 days. The interrogator wanted information about other people in my town but I did not cooperate.”
On or about 25 October, Adham was transferred to Megiddo prison, also inside Israel, where he is currently detained. In total, he spent 12 days in solitary confinement at Al Jalame.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail
Date of Incident: 14 October 2012
Age: 16
Location: Nablus, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 14 October 2012, a 16-year-old boy from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers and transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, inside Israel, where he is held for 12 days in solitary confinement.
Sixteen-year-old Adham and his friend Yaser went to the Israeli military co-ordination office near Nablus to apply for a permit to work inside Israel. They submitted their I.D. cards and about an hour later they were asked to enter the building where they were searched and detained. “Shortly after that they tied my hands from the front with two plastic ties and blindfolded me. They never told us why they were arresting us,” says Adham. The two boys were then taken on foot to Huwwara interrogation centre. After being searched again the boys were detained in separate cells. “One of the soldiers kept insulting me and calling me a donkey. He also insulted my mother,” says Adham.
At around 2:30 p.m. Adham was transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, inside Israel. Adham’s transfer and subsequent detention inside Israel was unlawful by virtue of Articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory. On arrival at Al Jalame, Adham was strip searched and placed inside Cell No. 36. “It is very small and only has room for one matress,” says Adham. “The mattress was very dirty. The toilet had a horrible smell and there were two holes in the ceiling that allowed freezing cold air in. The lights were dim yellow and left on the whole time. I spent 12 days in this cell. I could not tell day from night. I could not tell what time it was. I did not even see the prison guard who brought me food and passed it through a gap in the door. I did not sleep at all on the first night because I was so scared.”
The following morning Adham reports having his hands and feet shackled and being made to wear blacked-out glasses before being taken to an interrogation room. The interrogator made Adham sit in a small chair and then tied his hands and feet to the chair. “It was really painful to sit in this position,” says Adham, who was not given access to a lawyer or his parents, rights Israeli children, including those living in the settlements, are entitled to. Adham was accused of throwing stones and Molotov cocktails which he denied. “He interrogated me everyday, for two to three hours, for 11 days. On the third day a doctor came to see me and asked me a few questions about my health but did not examine me physically. I was in bad shape on the fourth day of the interrogation. It was really hard to spend days and nights in the cell, not to mention that the interrogator told me all my friends had provided confessions against me. This is why I decided to confess,” says Adham. “Even though I confessed on the fourth day, I was interrogated for 11 days. The interrogator wanted information about other people in my town but I did not cooperate.”
On or about 25 October, Adham was transferred to Megiddo prison, also inside Israel, where he is currently detained. In total, he spent 12 days in solitary confinement at Al Jalame.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail
Name: Jamal S.
Date of Incident: 22 October 2012
Age: 16
Location: Nablus, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 22 October 2012, a 16-year-old boy from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers at 2:00 a.m. and held in solitary confinement in Israel’s Al Jalame prison for four days.
“At around 2:00 a.m., I was sleeping when my father came and woke me up and told me that Israeli soldiers were in our yard,” recalls 16-year-old Jamal. Jamal’s father took the family’s I.D. cards outside to the soldiers. One of the soldiers asked him to bring Jamal outside. Once outside, Jamal was told that he had to accompany the soldiers and his family were ordered back inside the house. “All my siblings were awake and the little ones were terrified,” recalls Jamal, whose hands were tied and he was blindfolded.
Jamal was not informed why he was being arrested or where he was being taken. He was placed in the back of a military vehicle and driven for about 30 minutes. He was then pulled out of the jeep and made to sit on the ground for about an hour. “It was freezing outside and I was shivering,” recalls Jamal. After an hour, Jamal was placed back in the military vehicle and driven a short distance to Huwwara interrogation centre. Later that morning Jamal was transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, inside Israel. The transfer and detention of Jamal in Israel was unlawful by virtue of Articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Along the way Jamal asked for his handties to be loosened but he was shouted at by a soldier: “I’ll smash your head if you breathe a word.”
On arrival at Al Jalame Jamal was asked some questions about his health by a doctor, but was not examined. He was then taken to an interrogation room. Jamal was not given access to a lawyer or his parents. After about 30 minutes he was taken to Cell 19 where he was held in solitary confinement. The cell had no windows and the light was left on 24 hours per day. Jamal was interrogated a number of times and the interrogator threatened to keep Jhim in solitary confinement for a long time if he did not confess. “I actually believed him when he said this. My body started shaking and I felt really dizzy,” recalls Jamal. “I begged him not to put me back in the cell and I confessed to throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and grenades at military jeeps, even though I never did it,” says Jamal.
In total, Jamal spent four days in solitary confinement at Al Jalame before being transferred to Megiddo prison, inside Israel, where he was strip searched on arrival.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail
Date of Incident: 22 October 2012
Age: 16
Location: Nablus, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 22 October 2012, a 16-year-old boy from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers at 2:00 a.m. and held in solitary confinement in Israel’s Al Jalame prison for four days.
“At around 2:00 a.m., I was sleeping when my father came and woke me up and told me that Israeli soldiers were in our yard,” recalls 16-year-old Jamal. Jamal’s father took the family’s I.D. cards outside to the soldiers. One of the soldiers asked him to bring Jamal outside. Once outside, Jamal was told that he had to accompany the soldiers and his family were ordered back inside the house. “All my siblings were awake and the little ones were terrified,” recalls Jamal, whose hands were tied and he was blindfolded.
Jamal was not informed why he was being arrested or where he was being taken. He was placed in the back of a military vehicle and driven for about 30 minutes. He was then pulled out of the jeep and made to sit on the ground for about an hour. “It was freezing outside and I was shivering,” recalls Jamal. After an hour, Jamal was placed back in the military vehicle and driven a short distance to Huwwara interrogation centre. Later that morning Jamal was transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, inside Israel. The transfer and detention of Jamal in Israel was unlawful by virtue of Articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Along the way Jamal asked for his handties to be loosened but he was shouted at by a soldier: “I’ll smash your head if you breathe a word.”
On arrival at Al Jalame Jamal was asked some questions about his health by a doctor, but was not examined. He was then taken to an interrogation room. Jamal was not given access to a lawyer or his parents. After about 30 minutes he was taken to Cell 19 where he was held in solitary confinement. The cell had no windows and the light was left on 24 hours per day. Jamal was interrogated a number of times and the interrogator threatened to keep Jhim in solitary confinement for a long time if he did not confess. “I actually believed him when he said this. My body started shaking and I felt really dizzy,” recalls Jamal. “I begged him not to put me back in the cell and I confessed to throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and grenades at military jeeps, even though I never did it,” says Jamal.
In total, Jamal spent four days in solitary confinement at Al Jalame before being transferred to Megiddo prison, inside Israel, where he was strip searched on arrival.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail
3 dec 2012
Name: Suleiman K.
Date of Incident: 25 October 2012
Age: 17
Location: Nablus, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 25 October 2012, a 17-year-old boy from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers at 4:00 a.m. and held at Al Jalame interrogation centre in solitary confinement for 18 days.
“At around 4:00 a.m., I was sleeping when my father woke me up and told me Israeli soldiers were in our yard and they wanted to see me,” recalls 17-year-old Suleiman. The family quickly dressed and went out into the yard. The commanding officer told Suleiman that he wanted to talk to him alone and sent the rest of the family back inside. Suleiman was asked if he possessed a gun and he replied that he did not. Suleiman was then arrested but was not told why. His hands and feet were restrained and he was then led to a waiting military vehicle.
Approximately 10 minutes later Suleiman arrived at Huwwara interrogation centre, outside Nablus. After being asked some medical questions by a doctor he was strip searched and then detained in a room until 11:00 a.m. Suleiman was then transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, near Haifa, inside Israel. Suleiman’s transfer and subsequent detention in Israel is unlawful by virtue of Articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. On arrival at the interrogation centre Suleiman was strip searched for a second time. He was then taken for interrogation and asked some general questions by a police interrogator named “Nazir Sader” before being taken to an intelligence officer who introduced himself as “Barack”.
“‘Barack made me sit in a low metal chair tied to the floor in the middle of the room and tied my hands and feet to the chair. He kept me like that for hours. It was really painful and uncomfortable to sit in this position,” says Suleiman, who was questioned without being informed of his right to silence, without access to a lawyer and without a parent being present – rights Israeli children, including those living in the settlements, are entitled to. The interrogator accused Suleiman of weapon possession and attacking military vehicles and settler cars in the occupied West Bank – allegations he denied. “He interrogated me at least 16 times in the same manner; three to four hours each time. But I never confessed,” says Suleiman. Later on, other boys were brought into the interrogation room and told Suleiman that they had provided confessions against him.
Suleiman was held for 22 days at Al Jalame, 18 of which were spent in solitary confinement. Most of that time was spent in Cell No. 36. “It is very small and has no windows,” says Suleiman. “The lights were on non-stop.” After 22 days, Suleiman was transferred to Megiddo prison, also inside Israel, and was strip searched on arrival.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail
Date of Incident: 25 October 2012
Age: 17
Location: Nablus, West Bank
Nature of incident: Detention – solitary confinement
On 25 October 2012, a 17-year-old boy from Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, is arrested by Israeli soldiers at 4:00 a.m. and held at Al Jalame interrogation centre in solitary confinement for 18 days.
“At around 4:00 a.m., I was sleeping when my father woke me up and told me Israeli soldiers were in our yard and they wanted to see me,” recalls 17-year-old Suleiman. The family quickly dressed and went out into the yard. The commanding officer told Suleiman that he wanted to talk to him alone and sent the rest of the family back inside. Suleiman was asked if he possessed a gun and he replied that he did not. Suleiman was then arrested but was not told why. His hands and feet were restrained and he was then led to a waiting military vehicle.
Approximately 10 minutes later Suleiman arrived at Huwwara interrogation centre, outside Nablus. After being asked some medical questions by a doctor he was strip searched and then detained in a room until 11:00 a.m. Suleiman was then transferred to Al Jalame interrogation centre, near Haifa, inside Israel. Suleiman’s transfer and subsequent detention in Israel is unlawful by virtue of Articles 49 and 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. On arrival at the interrogation centre Suleiman was strip searched for a second time. He was then taken for interrogation and asked some general questions by a police interrogator named “Nazir Sader” before being taken to an intelligence officer who introduced himself as “Barack”.
“‘Barack made me sit in a low metal chair tied to the floor in the middle of the room and tied my hands and feet to the chair. He kept me like that for hours. It was really painful and uncomfortable to sit in this position,” says Suleiman, who was questioned without being informed of his right to silence, without access to a lawyer and without a parent being present – rights Israeli children, including those living in the settlements, are entitled to. The interrogator accused Suleiman of weapon possession and attacking military vehicles and settler cars in the occupied West Bank – allegations he denied. “He interrogated me at least 16 times in the same manner; three to four hours each time. But I never confessed,” says Suleiman. Later on, other boys were brought into the interrogation room and told Suleiman that they had provided confessions against him.
Suleiman was held for 22 days at Al Jalame, 18 of which were spent in solitary confinement. Most of that time was spent in Cell No. 36. “It is very small and has no windows,” says Suleiman. “The lights were on non-stop.” After 22 days, Suleiman was transferred to Megiddo prison, also inside Israel, and was strip searched on arrival.
In October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture submitted a report to the UN General Assembly [PDF] calling for a total prohibition on the use of solitary confinement for children as it can frequently amount to torture.
Related links:
• The Guardian – Palestinian children – alone and bewildered in Israel’s Al Jalame jail