26 apr 2019
The Belgian capital Brussels is set to host an international conference starting on Saturday on the Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons.
Abdul-Naser Farwana, the head of the documentation unit at the Palestinian Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission, said that the two-day conference is organized by the European Coalition for Palestinian Prisoners Rights.
Farwana told Quds Press that the conference will witness the participation of the Palestinian minister of prisoners' affairs Qadri Abu Baker, human rights organizations, ex-prisoners, notables, pro-Palestinian groups, and peace activists from all over the world.
Farwana said that the conference will shed light on the Palestinian child detainees and the violations and torture they are subjected to in Israeli jails. It will also include documentary films, photo exhibitions, and testimonies by ex-prisoners who served different sentences in Israeli prisons.
Israel is holding nearly 6,500 Palestinians in its lock-ups, 1,500 of whom have health issues, 400 are under the age of 18, 450 are detained without charge or trial, and 9 are members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Abdul-Naser Farwana, the head of the documentation unit at the Palestinian Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission, said that the two-day conference is organized by the European Coalition for Palestinian Prisoners Rights.
Farwana told Quds Press that the conference will witness the participation of the Palestinian minister of prisoners' affairs Qadri Abu Baker, human rights organizations, ex-prisoners, notables, pro-Palestinian groups, and peace activists from all over the world.
Farwana said that the conference will shed light on the Palestinian child detainees and the violations and torture they are subjected to in Israeli jails. It will also include documentary films, photo exhibitions, and testimonies by ex-prisoners who served different sentences in Israeli prisons.
Israel is holding nearly 6,500 Palestinians in its lock-ups, 1,500 of whom have health issues, 400 are under the age of 18, 450 are detained without charge or trial, and 9 are members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
|
|
Obaida Akram Jawabra is 15 and has already been arrested twice by Israel.
The teenager, from the Arroub refugee camp in the southern occupied West Bank, is among hundreds of Palestinian children to be arrested by Israel each year. “The first time was really difficult. I was on my way to the store when they arrested me,” Obaida says in a new film named after him. “The soldiers would beat me in places that would leave no marks so there wouldn’t be evidence on my body that I could use to testify against them,” Obaida says. The film was produced by Matthew Cassel for Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP). Cassel is a former editor of The Electronic Intifada. Israel subjects Palestinian children in its jails to “slapping, beating, kicking and violent pushing,” according to prisoners rights group Addameer, as well as routine verbal abuse. Israel also subjects Palestinian children to sexual assault and harassment in its jails. Approximately 75 percent of Palestinian children imprisoned by Israel report physical violence, and 62 percent report verbal violence, according to DCIP. Disrupting education Israeli military imprisonment and torture have traumatic and often lasting effects on children after their release, even if time spent in prison was brief. “The arrest of children has a destructive impact on the level of children’s mental health,” Addameer states, making children more susceptible to drop out of school upon their release and harming their career prospects. “Arrest, interrogation or house arrest – even for several months – can damage beyond repair years’ worth of studies,” the group adds. Israel does not provide appropriate education for Palestinian children in prisons, forcing children to try to catch up on school work upon their release “while shouldering the invisible psychological consequences of traumatic military arrests and interrogations,” according to DCIP. When Obaida was released from prison, he was unable to catch up with school work. He had to drop out and join a vocational school, called the Arroub Agricultural Secondary Coeducational School. The school has pupils who have already been to prison. Others were arrested while they were pupils at the school. “In both cases, we find that when these students come back to us, they can have trouble fitting in. It’s not easy for them to interact with others or build relationships,” Rashid Arrar, a counselor at the school says in the film. Location on highway The school’s location plays a role in the pupils’ susceptibility to arrests. “We are located in an area that sees a lot of friction,” Arrar says in the film. The school lies near Highway 60 between Bethlehem and Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank. This highway, used by Israeli settlers, extends from the city of Nazareth in northern Israel, cuts through the occupied West Bank and ends in the city of Bir al-Saba in the far south of Israel. Obaida, like many other children in Arroub, needs to cross the highway in order to get to school. “Sometimes the Israeli forces assault the children. Sometimes there are arrests and raids on the school,” Arrar says. |
Israel forbids Palestinians from traveling on the highway in certain areas without a permit. Palestinians can reach the road only by going through military checkpoints.
Israeli settlers are not subjected to the same restrictions.
At checkpoints, Israeli forces pull over Palestinian-owned vehicles – with green license plates – aside for inspection. Israeli-owned cars – with yellow license plates – are typically allowed to pass through without inspection.
“Dubious distinction”
“Israel has the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes between 500 and 700 children in military courts each year,” according to the No Way to Treat a Child campaign.
More than 12,000 Palestnian children – some as young as 12 – were detained by Israel between 2000 and 2017.
Ahed Tamimi became an icon of Palestinian child prisoners after spending eight months in jail for slapping and shoving a fully armed Israeli soldier in a video recorded by her mother during December 2017. She was 16 at the time and turned 17 in prison.
Israeli interrogators sexually harassed Ahed during a taped interrogation.
Shortly before Ahed slapped a soldier, Israeli troops shot in the head and seriously injured her 15-year-old cousin Muhammad Fadel Tamimi. The Israeli authorities then lied about the incident, by saying he “fell off his bike.”
Ahed’s 15-year-old brother Muhammad Bassem Tamimi was detained earlier this month from the family’s home in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh.
This video shows Israeli occupation forces detaining Muhammad from his home.
Muhammad Fadel Tamimi, Ahed’s injured cousin, was charged earlier this month for allegedly throwing stones and engaging in “violent acts.”
Throwing stones is a common charge Israel uses against Palestinian children, which is “punishable under military law by up to 20 years in prison,” Addameer notes.
Last year, Minnesota representative Betty McCollum introduced the first bill in the US Congress that would prohibit Israel from using any of the billions it receives annually in military aid for the detention, torture and abuse of Palestinian children.
The bill currently has 30 co-sponsors.
During March, 205 children were held in Israeli jails, more than 30 of whom were under 16.
“Not complete freedom”
“A lot happened to me in prison, and when I left I noticed a lot had changed,” Obaida says in the film.
During a conversation with a friend who was also imprisoned by Israel, the pair bond on the difficulties and lessons of being detained.
“When I was in prison, I used to look forward to my court dates because it meant a change of scenery,” Obaida’s friend tells him in the film.
“On visitation days, you’d see your parents. That was the only good thing about prison.”
“Nothing is good in prison,” Obaida responds, and they both agree, although adding that the difficulties of being a child in Israeli prison has taught them patience.
“I learned how to cook and to work with others, and how to be polite and respectful,” Obaida says.
Despite being released from prison, Obaida says his happiness is not complete.
“I feel freedom but it is not complete freedom. We first have to be liberated [from the occupation] before I can feel that am truly free.”
Israeli settlers are not subjected to the same restrictions.
At checkpoints, Israeli forces pull over Palestinian-owned vehicles – with green license plates – aside for inspection. Israeli-owned cars – with yellow license plates – are typically allowed to pass through without inspection.
“Dubious distinction”
“Israel has the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes between 500 and 700 children in military courts each year,” according to the No Way to Treat a Child campaign.
More than 12,000 Palestnian children – some as young as 12 – were detained by Israel between 2000 and 2017.
Ahed Tamimi became an icon of Palestinian child prisoners after spending eight months in jail for slapping and shoving a fully armed Israeli soldier in a video recorded by her mother during December 2017. She was 16 at the time and turned 17 in prison.
Israeli interrogators sexually harassed Ahed during a taped interrogation.
Shortly before Ahed slapped a soldier, Israeli troops shot in the head and seriously injured her 15-year-old cousin Muhammad Fadel Tamimi. The Israeli authorities then lied about the incident, by saying he “fell off his bike.”
Ahed’s 15-year-old brother Muhammad Bassem Tamimi was detained earlier this month from the family’s home in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh.
This video shows Israeli occupation forces detaining Muhammad from his home.
Muhammad Fadel Tamimi, Ahed’s injured cousin, was charged earlier this month for allegedly throwing stones and engaging in “violent acts.”
Throwing stones is a common charge Israel uses against Palestinian children, which is “punishable under military law by up to 20 years in prison,” Addameer notes.
Last year, Minnesota representative Betty McCollum introduced the first bill in the US Congress that would prohibit Israel from using any of the billions it receives annually in military aid for the detention, torture and abuse of Palestinian children.
The bill currently has 30 co-sponsors.
During March, 205 children were held in Israeli jails, more than 30 of whom were under 16.
“Not complete freedom”
“A lot happened to me in prison, and when I left I noticed a lot had changed,” Obaida says in the film.
During a conversation with a friend who was also imprisoned by Israel, the pair bond on the difficulties and lessons of being detained.
“When I was in prison, I used to look forward to my court dates because it meant a change of scenery,” Obaida’s friend tells him in the film.
“On visitation days, you’d see your parents. That was the only good thing about prison.”
“Nothing is good in prison,” Obaida responds, and they both agree, although adding that the difficulties of being a child in Israeli prison has taught them patience.
“I learned how to cook and to work with others, and how to be polite and respectful,” Obaida says.
Despite being released from prison, Obaida says his happiness is not complete.
“I feel freedom but it is not complete freedom. We first have to be liberated [from the occupation] before I can feel that am truly free.”
Scores of Palestinian citizens on Thursday evening suffered from their exposure to tear gas fumes at the southern entrance to Jenin city after the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the area and clashed with local youths.
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli soldiers fired volleys of tear gas grenades at Palestinian citizens, young men and homes at the junction of al-Shuhada in southern Jenin.
They added that many citizens inside their homes also suffered from inhaling tear gas.
They said that the events started after the IOF set up a checkpoint at the junction that leads to Jenin and Qabatiya town.
The IOF also stormed last night Yamun town in the west of Jenin and kidnapped a young man identified as Jihad Furaihat.
They also set up a checkpoint on the Jenin-Haifa road near the Ta’nak junction, intercepted Palestinian cars and checked the IDs of passengers.
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli soldiers fired volleys of tear gas grenades at Palestinian citizens, young men and homes at the junction of al-Shuhada in southern Jenin.
They added that many citizens inside their homes also suffered from inhaling tear gas.
They said that the events started after the IOF set up a checkpoint at the junction that leads to Jenin and Qabatiya town.
The IOF also stormed last night Yamun town in the west of Jenin and kidnapped a young man identified as Jihad Furaihat.
They also set up a checkpoint on the Jenin-Haifa road near the Ta’nak junction, intercepted Palestinian cars and checked the IDs of passengers.
The Israeli occupation police on Thursday banished a Jerusalemite young man from the Aqsa Mosque for several days.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, the Israeli police decided to ban Ameer al-Zaghir from entering the Aqsa Mosque for four days, with no reason.
The young man was rounded up on Thursday morning and taken to a police station in the holy city for interrogation.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, the Israeli police decided to ban Ameer al-Zaghir from entering the Aqsa Mosque for four days, with no reason.
The young man was rounded up on Thursday morning and taken to a police station in the holy city for interrogation.
25 apr 2019
Palestinian prisoner, Khaled Farraj, has suspended his open hunger strike after 29 days, on Thursday.
The Prisoners and Former Prisoners' Affairs Committee said that Farraj, 31, who is a resident from Dheisheh refugee camp in the southern occupied West Bank district of Bethlehem, suspended his 29-day hunger strike after his lawyer reached an agreement with the Israeli prosecution.
The agreement stated that Farraj’s administrative detention would not be renewed, meaning he is to be released by October 23rd 2019.
Farraj was detained on January 23rd 2018 from the southern West Bank district of Bethlehem; the Israeli authorities immediately issued a administrative detention order against him.
On March 26th 2019, Farraj declared an open hunger strike, as a form of protest against his administrative detention, however, was forced to suspend it as his health was deteriorating.
According to prisoners rights group Addameer, there are 5,450 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons, of whom 497 are in administrative detention, and 48 female prisoners, and 205 minors, 32 of whom under 16 years old.
Rights groups say that Israel's administrative detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political processes, particularly targeting Palestinian activists, journalists, and politicians.
The Prisoners and Former Prisoners' Affairs Committee said that Farraj, 31, who is a resident from Dheisheh refugee camp in the southern occupied West Bank district of Bethlehem, suspended his 29-day hunger strike after his lawyer reached an agreement with the Israeli prosecution.
The agreement stated that Farraj’s administrative detention would not be renewed, meaning he is to be released by October 23rd 2019.
Farraj was detained on January 23rd 2018 from the southern West Bank district of Bethlehem; the Israeli authorities immediately issued a administrative detention order against him.
On March 26th 2019, Farraj declared an open hunger strike, as a form of protest against his administrative detention, however, was forced to suspend it as his health was deteriorating.
According to prisoners rights group Addameer, there are 5,450 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons, of whom 497 are in administrative detention, and 48 female prisoners, and 205 minors, 32 of whom under 16 years old.
Rights groups say that Israel's administrative detention policy has been used as an attempt to disrupt Palestinian political processes, particularly targeting Palestinian activists, journalists, and politicians.
Four Palestinian prisoners have been on open-ended hunger strike for several days in protest at their detention administratively, with no trial or indictment.
The hunger strikers are Husam al-Razza and Mohamed Tabanja and they have been on hunger strike for about 38 days and 30 days respectively, while Hasan al-Aweiwi and Odeh al-Haroub started their hunger strike together on April 2, 2019.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society, these four hunger strikers are being exposed to suppressive measures by the Israeli prison service, including solitary confinement and repeated transfers.
The hunger strikers are also deprived of seeing their families and hardly can see their lawyers.
The hunger strikers are Husam al-Razza and Mohamed Tabanja and they have been on hunger strike for about 38 days and 30 days respectively, while Hasan al-Aweiwi and Odeh al-Haroub started their hunger strike together on April 2, 2019.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner Society, these four hunger strikers are being exposed to suppressive measures by the Israeli prison service, including solitary confinement and repeated transfers.
The hunger strikers are also deprived of seeing their families and hardly can see their lawyers.
The Salem military court has extended the detention of wounded prisoner Omar Younis, 20, for seven days.
According to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs, prisoner Younis is currently in the intensive care unit at Beilinson Hospital.
The Israeli occupation forces arrested Younis a few days ago after they shot him at Za’atara checkpoint in Nablus city on allegations that he tried to carry out a stabbing attack.
According to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affairs, prisoner Younis is currently in the intensive care unit at Beilinson Hospital.
The Israeli occupation forces arrested Younis a few days ago after they shot him at Za’atara checkpoint in Nablus city on allegations that he tried to carry out a stabbing attack.
Israeli forces detained at least three Palestinians throughout the southern and central occupied West Bank, on predawn Thursday.
According to Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS), Israeli forces detained one Palestinian in the southern West Bank district of Hebron. He was identified as Louay Faysal al-Hashlamon.
In the Beit Iksa village, northwest of the central West Bank district of Jerusalem, another Palestinian was detained and identified as Shihab Hussam Ghareeb.
PPS mentioned that Israeli forces raided Ghareeb’s family home prior to his detention.
In the central West Bank district of Ramallah, PPS said one Palestinian was detained. He was identified as Anas Mahmoud Said.
According to prisoners rights group Addameer, there are 5,450 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons.
According to Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS), Israeli forces detained one Palestinian in the southern West Bank district of Hebron. He was identified as Louay Faysal al-Hashlamon.
In the Beit Iksa village, northwest of the central West Bank district of Jerusalem, another Palestinian was detained and identified as Shihab Hussam Ghareeb.
PPS mentioned that Israeli forces raided Ghareeb’s family home prior to his detention.
In the central West Bank district of Ramallah, PPS said one Palestinian was detained. He was identified as Anas Mahmoud Said.
According to prisoners rights group Addameer, there are 5,450 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli prisons.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns that the Israeli authorities stationed at Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing arrested a patient’s companion, from the Gaza Strip, while returning to the Gaza Strip.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 23 April 2019, the Israeli authorities arrested Karam Mustafa Mohammed Tantawi (51), from al-Qal’a buildings, south of Khan Younis. Karam, who was accompanying his wife Safa’ ‘Abed al-Majeed Tantawi (47), a cancer patient, was arrested while returning to the Gaza Strip after his wife received treatment at al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem.
Safa’ said to PCHR’s fieldworker that on 01 April 2019, she left the Gaza Strip along with her husband to al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem through Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing. She added that she received treatment for 20 days and while she was returning to the Gaza Strip along with her husband, the Israeli authorities arrested him. She clarified that after around 15 minutes, Israeli soldiers ordered her to leave alone to the Gaza Strip, but she refused and waited until 18:00. After that, the Palestinian Civil Liaison informed her that she should return to the Gaza Strip because her husband was arrested.
It should be noted that the PCHR’s lawyer, in his capacity as the legal agent for al-Tantawi, was prevented today from visiting him in al- Majdal Prison. The court extended his arrest until next Tuesday, 30 April 2019.
PCHR stresses that the ongoing Israeli forces policy of arresting patients and their companions is considered as violation of the international human rights law and the international humanitarian law. It also constitutes a form of inhuman and degrading punishment, which coincides with the policy of tightening the illegal closure imposed on the Gaza Strip. This aggravates the patients’ suffering as their treatment is not available in the Gaza Strip hospitals.
In light of the above, PCHR:
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information, please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 23 April 2019, the Israeli authorities arrested Karam Mustafa Mohammed Tantawi (51), from al-Qal’a buildings, south of Khan Younis. Karam, who was accompanying his wife Safa’ ‘Abed al-Majeed Tantawi (47), a cancer patient, was arrested while returning to the Gaza Strip after his wife received treatment at al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem.
Safa’ said to PCHR’s fieldworker that on 01 April 2019, she left the Gaza Strip along with her husband to al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem through Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing. She added that she received treatment for 20 days and while she was returning to the Gaza Strip along with her husband, the Israeli authorities arrested him. She clarified that after around 15 minutes, Israeli soldiers ordered her to leave alone to the Gaza Strip, but she refused and waited until 18:00. After that, the Palestinian Civil Liaison informed her that she should return to the Gaza Strip because her husband was arrested.
It should be noted that the PCHR’s lawyer, in his capacity as the legal agent for al-Tantawi, was prevented today from visiting him in al- Majdal Prison. The court extended his arrest until next Tuesday, 30 April 2019.
PCHR stresses that the ongoing Israeli forces policy of arresting patients and their companions is considered as violation of the international human rights law and the international humanitarian law. It also constitutes a form of inhuman and degrading punishment, which coincides with the policy of tightening the illegal closure imposed on the Gaza Strip. This aggravates the patients’ suffering as their treatment is not available in the Gaza Strip hospitals.
In light of the above, PCHR:
- Strongly condemns the arrest of Palestinian patients and their companions during their travel to receive treatment by the Israeli authorities. PCHR also calls for their immediate release and ensuring not to put their lives in danger.
- Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to fulfill their obligations and assume their responsibilities and intervene to put an end to the Israeli forces’ violations to the international humanitarian law against Palestinians.
- Calls for ensuring the freedom of movement of the Gaza Strip’s residents from/to the West Bank, including Jerusalem
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information, please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
