Since 2000, an estimated 12,000 Palestinian children have been arbitrarily detained in Israel’s military detention system. They are mostly charged for throwing stones at Israeli soldiers, an act punishable by up to maximum 20 years in prison.

How Are Palestinian Minors Treated in Israeli Custody?

Denied Fundamental Rights

Without fair trials, minors often face years in pretrial or administrative detention without access to counsel or family visits.
​
Abusive Environment

Detained children experience physical and sexual violence, and are sometimes released after years of arbitrary incarceration.

Inhumane Treatment

Palestinian children in Israeli custody endure torture, strip searches, threats to their families and are denied critical medical care.

Institutionalized Detainment

Minors detained in Israeli custody are subjected to ill-treatment in order to obtain forced confessions.

BREAK THE CYCLE OF TRAUMA!  STOP ARBITRARY DETENTION, KIDNAPPING AND ABUSE OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH!

Each year, Canada recognizes November 20th as “National Child Day” to protect and uphold the rights of children around the world. This observance was adopted in commemoration of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). As a party to this convention, Canada has failed its global commitment to ensure all children – including Palestinian children – are protected from harm and treated with dignity and respect.

The Cruel Treatment of Palestinian Children Detained in Israeli Custody

8 in 10
reported
physical beatings.
9 in 10
reported verbal
abuse under
Israeli custody. ​
56%
reported being
forced to sign Hebrew
documents (a language
they don’t understand).
75 to 80%
experience physical
violence during arrest
or interrogations.
86 %
faced humiliation
and reported feeling
ashamed through
strip searches.
88%
were denied timely
or adequate health care.
93%
were denied access
to bail or legal services
during interrogations.
97 to 98%
of most cases end with
a plea bargain and
guaranteed jail time.

How Israeli Occupational Forces Target and Arrest Palestinian Children

➞ Israel is the only country that prosecutes children in military courts. In 2021, 1,300 Palestinian children were arrested by Israeli authorities. As of June 2022, 170 Palestinian children remain in Israeli prisons. Most are in pre-trial detention and have not been convicted of any offence.
➞ Israeli authorities mostly convict Palestinian minors through forced confessions, interrogations using humiliation, verbal abuse, solitary confinement, including physical and psychological torture.
➞ Palestinian children are arrested by armed Israeli soldiers raiding their homes at night. They are bound, blindfolded, sleep deprived and subject to stress positions when delivered to Israeli interrogation centres.
➞ No food or water was reported by Palestinian children up to 24 hours after being arrested, including denying toilet or medicine access.
➞ Most Palestinian children are not allowed to see their families while detained, resulting in isolation and emotional distress. 

Resources:

  1. Report by Save the Children UK: Defenceless – The impact of the Israeli Military Detention System on Palestinian Children 
  2. Study by UNICEF: Children in Israeli Military Detention – Observations and Recommendations 
  3. Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Canada ​