Detention figures – According to data issued quarterly by the Israel Prison Service (IPS), as of 30 September 2023, there were 5,105 Palestinians (West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza) held as “security prisoners” in detention facilities including 156 children (12-17 years) (154 boys/2 girls). In the case of children there was a 5% decrease in the number compared with the previous month and an annual increase of 15% compared with 2022. Twenty-three children were held in administrative detention without charge or trial - the highest number since January 2008. According to the IPS, 68% of child detainees and 75% of adult detainees were unlawfully transferred from the occupied West Bank to prisons in Israel in September in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute. More statistics
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Report: 1,100 cases within the jurisdiction of the ICC - On 29 November, MCW released a report relating to the systematic torture and/or ill treatment of Palestinian children held in Israeli military detention including the use of solitary confinement as part of the interrogation process. The report also includes evidence of the unlawful transfer of Palestinian child detainees from the occupied West Bank to interrogation centres and prisons inside Israel. The report is based on 1,100 testimonies collected from children detained between January 2013 and August 2023. The report also relies on, inter alia, testimonies from 40 parents of detained children, 62 former Israeli soldiers and data from the Israel Prison Service (IPS). The report notes that 98% of Palestinian children detained in the occupied West Bank live within several kilometres of an illegal settlement. Read more__________________________________________________________________________________
The unlawful transfer of Ukrainian and Palestinian children - The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, led by Karim Khan KC, took just 12 months to investigate the unlawful transfer and deportation of "at least hundreds of children" from occupied Ukraine to the Russian Federation and obtain arrest warrants from the Court for those responsible. An alleged war crime perpetrated against children protected under the Fourth Geneva Convention requiring prompt action. Palestinian children are also being unlawfully transferred from the occupied West Bank to interrogation centres and prisons in Israel according to data published by the Israel Prison Service. Although these children are entitled to protection under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which specifically prohibits the transfer of detainees, no action has yet been taken even though the Office of the Prosecutor has been in possession of this evidence since 16 March 2015. Read more__________________________________________________________________________________
A mother's testimony - In **** 2023, Israeli soldiers entered a family home in **** refugee camp at 6:30 a.m. looking for a 16-year-old boy. The boy was not at home so the soldiers took another son as hostage until the boy turned himself in. "The soldiers kept me in the living room and then searched our home causing damage to our furniture. They turned the washing machine upside-down and did the same to the refrigerator. Then they took everything out of our wardrobes and threw our clothes on the floor. They turned the house into a complete mess while I watched helplessly. Then one of the soldiers told me he was going to take my eldest son until my 16-year-old boy turned himself in. They then took my eldest son away and did not tell us where they were taking him." Read more__________________________________________________________________________________
A child's testimony - On **** 2023, Israeli soldiers raided a home in **** refugee camp at 6:30 a.m. looking for a 16-year-old minor. When they did not find the boy they took his older brother hostage until he turned himself in. The minor was released in a prisoner swap deal and describes conditions in prison after 7 October 2023. "During the war, prison conditions became harsh. The prison authorities stopped our classes where we learned Arabic, Hebrew and mathematics. Most of the time we had no hot water to shower and wash and they took away the cold drinking water fountain. They limited our time outdoors; the longest time we were given in the exercise yard was 15 minutes. They also increased the number of detainees in each cell from six to 10. This meant that four of us had to sleep on the floor." Read more__________________________________________________________________________________
