By: John Lyons, Janine Cohen and Sylvie Le Clezio
Source: ABC’s Four Corners
A joint investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) Four Corners and The Australian newspaper reveals evidence that shows the Israeli army is targeting Palestinian boys for arrest and detention. Reporter John Lyons travels to the West Bank to hear the story of children who claim they have been taken into custody, ruthlessly questioned and then allegedly forced to sign confessions before being taken to court for sentencing.
KEY REPORTS
REPORT: Children in Israeli Military Detention: Observations and Recommendations | UNICEF | Feb 2013 – In this briefing paper UNICEF recommends measures so that Palestinian children in Israeli military custody are treated in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international standards.
Children in Israeli Military Detention: Observations and Recommendations | UNICEF Bulletin No. 1 | Oct 2013 – On 6 March 2013, UNICEF released its paper entitled ‘Children in Israeli Military Detention – Observations and Recommendations’. Since the publication of the UNICEF paper, the Military Prosecutor has been engaging closely with UNICEF and has been reviewing the recommendations of the UNICEF paper. This engagement is facilitating a deeper analysis and understanding of the process of military arrest, detention and prosecution in the West Bank. [PDF 123 Kb]
Children Affected by Armed Conflict | UNICEF Bulletin | Jul 2013 – Since 2007, a UNICEF-led working group has consolidated efforts to report on the impacts of armed conflict on children in Israel and the State of Palestine. The bulletin is published on a bi-monthly basis highlighting trends and patterns in grave violations against children. This edition covers the second quarter of 2013.[PDF 345Kb]
Children in Military Custody: A report written by a delegation of British lawyers on the treatment of Palestinian | Jun 2013 – This report assesses the treatment of Palestinian children under Israeli military law, examining each stage in the process: arrest, interrogation, bail hearings and plea bargains, trial, sentencing, detention and complaints.
Humanitarian Atlas | UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs | Dec 2012 – A map atlas that includes maps, infographics and statistics on humanitarian issues facing Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory. [PDF 49Mb]
Bound, Blindfolded and Convicted: Children held in military detention | DCI-Palestine | Apr 2012 – The report is the culmination of four year’s work by DCI, with the support of the European Union, focusing on verifying reports of ill-treatment and torture of children in the Israeli military detention system. Download.
UNICEF CO Situation Report | 31 Jul 2013 – The main manifestations of the Israeli occupation across the occupied Palestinian territory have barely changed and as a result serious protection and human rights concerns and limited access to essential services including education and health continued to characterize the day-to-day lives of many Palestinians. Read this update from UNICEF. [PDF 786Kb]
NEWS COVERAGE
Israeli security forces accused of using Palestinian children to gather intelligence | ABC News | 10 Feb 2014 – Israel’s security services have been accused by lawyers and youth workers of using Palestinian children to gather intelligence.
Palestinian children pawns in an unjust system |The Australian | 8 Feb 2014 – “Sitting in the heavily fortified headquarters of the Israeli army in Tel Aviv a few months ago, we were surrounded by some of the world’s most advanced military technology…” Article by John Lyons.
Obama expresses support for Kerry’s ‘principled’ Mideast diplomacy | Haaretz | 6 Feb 2014 – During interfaith breakfast in Washington, the president praised Kerry’s efforts in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israeli settlers: ‘If we have to live in a Palestinian state, so be it’ | The Jewish Chronicle | 6 Feb 2014 – Many on the Israeli right reacted with outrage at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent suggestion that, under a peace agreement, Israelis living in West Bank settlements could choose to remain under Palestinian sovereignty. But, among settlers themselves, it seems that all options are on the table.
‘Israel is losing support’ warns ambassador Matthew Gould | The Jewish Chronicle | 23 Jan 2014 – Israel is losing support across Europe due to its approach to the Palestinians and West Bank settlements, Britain’s ambassador in Tel Aviv has warned.
UNICEF on ‘Children in Israeli military detention’: first progress report | 14 Oct 2013 – On 6 March 2013, UNICEF released a briefing paper titled ‘Children in Israeli military detention’ which outlined practical measures to improve the treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military custody.
Full text of Obama’s 2013 speech at UN General Assembly | The Times of Israel | 24 Sep 2013 – Breakthroughs on Iran’s nuclear program and Israeli-Palestinian peace ‘would have a profound and positive impact on the entire Middle East and North Africa,’ says US president. Read more.
In a West Bank Culture of Conflict, Boys Wield the Weapon at Hand | New York Times | 4 Aug 2013 – Muhammad Abu Hashem, 17, was sleeping in a sleeveless undershirt when the Israeli soldiers stormed into his home here at 4 a.m. on the second Monday in July. As they led him away moments later, Muhammad’s mother rushed after with a long-sleeved shirt: they both knew it would be cold in the interrogation room.
Israeli law tears Palestinian families apart | Al Jazeera | 19 Jul 2013 – Children are often denied access to their families amid controversial citizenship laws.
Toddler injured in terror attack fights for her life | Y-Net | 3 Mar 2013 – Adele Biton, 3, is fighting for her life after she sustained critical injuries terror attack in the West Bank.
Bob Carr raises concerns over plight of Palestinian children in Israeli jails | The Australian | 28 Jul 2012 – Australia has formally raised concerns with Israel about the detention of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons. By John Lyons, Middle East correspondent.
Stone cold justice | The Australian | 26 Nov 2011 – “We’re sitting in an Israeli military court which is attached to the Ofer prison in the West Bank, 25 minutes from Jerusalem. Mondays and Tuesdays are “children’s days”. Hundreds of Palestinian children from the age of 12 are brought here each year to be tried under Israeli military law for a range of offences.” An article by John Lyons.