Testimony: D.M.R.
| Name: | D.M.R. |
| Age: | 12 |
| Date of incident: | 29 November 2015 |
| Location: | Al Jalazun camp, West Bank |
| Accusation: | Throwing stones |
On 29 November 2015, a 12-year-old minor from Al Jalazun refugee camp was detained by Israeli soldiers at 1:00 p.m. on his way home from school and accused of throwing stones. He reports ill treatment and being denied his basic legal rights under Israeli military law. He reports being released without charge 8 hours later.
I was arrested on my way back from school at around 1:00 p.m. At the time boys were throwing stones at Israeli soldiers and the soldiers were firing tear gas back at the boys. I tried to move out of the area but I was confronted by a group of soldiers who were on the main road. The soldiers started to chase the boys and I ran away but the soldiers grabbed me.As soon as the soldiers grabbed me they started to beat me hard. They pulled my hair and dragged me to the military watchtower near the settlement of Beit El. When we got to the watchtower they tied my hands to the back with one plastic tie which was very tight.
The soldiers made me sit on the ground next to two other boys they had arrested. I remained there for about an hour and I asked the soldiers to use the toilet but they refused. Then they blindfolded me and pushed me into the back of a jeep where I sat on the floor. The jeep drove for about an hour before it stopped at a nearby military base.
I was given some water and the commander called me in for interrogation. By this time it was dark. It was around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. I didn’t have a watch but I tried to estimate the time.
The commander removed the blindfold and asked me why I threw stones at soldiers. I told him I didn’t throw stones and that I was on my way home from school. He lost his temper and started to shout. He slapped me and left the room. He did not say anything about my rights.
Two scary soldiers entered the room and one of them started to shout and ask me why I threw stones at them. He wanted to know who else was with me. I started to cry and told him I didn’t throw stones and I didn’t know anyone who did. He shouted at me and said "fuck your mother" and "fuck your sister" and hit me. The other soldier hit me too and this lasted for about 15 minutes. The whole time they tried to get names of boys from me. Then they took me outside.
They did not write down my statement and did not ask me to sign any documents. About 30 minutes later I was taken to a very cold room with the two other boys. The air conditioner was turned on. We remained there for about an hour. I was then taken to a jeep where the ties were removed and I was handed over to the Palestinian police. My father was waiting for me and I went home with him. It was around 9:00 p.m.
