Recently, a congressional briefing was held regarding H.R. 4391, aimed at promoting human rights by ending the Israeli military detention of Palestinian minors. This pivotal event went largely unnoticed, overshadowed by the complex realities of domestic politics and human rights concerns. Many voices have echoed, “This is not who we are as a nation.” However, the unfortunate reality is that this is precisely what has been allowed to transpire, often funded by taxpayer dollars.
A joint initiative by Defense of Children International-Palestine and the American Friends Service Committee, titled “No Way to Treat a Child,” highlights that Israel is the only nation that systematically prosecutes between 500 and 700 children annually in military courts devoid of fundamental fair trial rights. Disturbingly, around 75% of Palestinian children endure physical violence post-arrest. Children under 18 represent nearly 46% of the 4.95 million Palestinians residing in the occupied West Bank—including East Jerusalem—and the Gaza Strip. In Gaza, this figure is even higher, with the region suffering under a military blockade for over a decade. An entire generation has grown up amid military occupation characterized by systemic impunity and consistent human rights violations.
These minors are often seized during nighttime raids, traumatizing not just the children themselves but entire families. Typical practices include blindfolding the children, withholding information about their rights, and subjecting them to prolonged pre-trial detentions without access to legal counsel. Bail is exceedingly rare and often exorbitantly priced. Trials usually see the extension of detention until proceedings conclude. Alarmingly, children as young as 12 are subjected to severe mistreatment in detention facilities, including physical abuse, denial of basic needs, and, in some instances, sexual assault. Israel uniquely prosecutes children in military courts as a standard practice.
You may have heard about Layla Nasser, a 17-year-old Palestinian girl arrested for slapping a soldier. Her family has endured years of harassment from occupation forces. On the same day of her arrest, her cousin was shot in the head by a rubber-coated bullet. While she celebrated her 17th birthday awaiting trial, she received an eight-month prison sentence. In stark contrast, an Israeli settler who intentionally burned down a Palestinian home, resulting in the death of 7-year-old Ahmad Dawabsha’s family, received just a six-month sentence.
Layla’s case is not an anomaly; up to 700 children face prosecution in this flawed system each year. The trauma compounds, as nearly two-thirds of detained children report experiencing abuse while in custody. A 2013 UNICEF report indicated that mistreatment of Palestinian minors in military detention is widespread and systematic. Recent data suggests an increase in such abuses.
One notable case involves Tariq al-Junaidi, who was arrested while buying groceries for his family, only to face severe beatings that resulted in a broken shoulder. He was denied medical treatment for over 18 days, with images of his inhumane arrest going viral, depicting him blindfolded and surrounded by armed soldiers. At just 16, he has been thrust into a caretaker role for his family, with his mother battling a terminal illness and his father recovering from an injury.
Another example is Omar Tamimi, an 18-year-old with a serious medical condition that renders him unable to process protein. He was deprived of a specialized diet and essential medications for nearly two months, accused of stone-throwing—a claim that is often impossible to substantiate. After significant pressure from fellow inmates, he finally received medical attention. However, after three days in a coma, he lost nearly all of his eyesight, yet he is still expected to stand trial for a crime he insists he did not commit.
Conditions for Palestinian children living in Gaza are even more dire. With around 2 million people packed into a 25-mile long and 5-mile wide area, nearly half of the population are children, most of whom exhibit signs of severe psychological distress. This distress is compounded by three military offensives in 2008, 2012, and 2014. The World Bank reports that approximately 42% of Gazans live in poverty, with youth unemployment soaring to 58%. A staggering 80% of the population relies on international aid for basic necessities.
Children deserve a future free from the horrors of military raids, forced separations from their parents, coerced confessions, and military court prosecutions. It is not unreasonable to insist that children should be shielded from such experiences. H.R. 4391 seeks to ensure that U.S. assistance to Israel does not support the military detention of Palestinian minors in violation of international humanitarian law. The time has come to hold our representatives accountable for their complicity in enabling these systemic abuses.
According to the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel has ratified, the detention of minors should only occur as a last resort and for the shortest appropriate duration. Given that Israel receives over $3 billion annually from the U.S., it is reasonable to demand adherence to previously agreed-upon legal standards.
As stated in a congressional briefing by Defense for Children International – Palestine and American Friends Service Committee, “Children see only a future with limited prospects where their hopes and dreams are stifled by an Israeli military occupation with no end in sight.” We are permitting an entire generation of children to grow up in despair, with little hope for a brighter future. While some argue that we must first address domestic issues, it costs nothing to ensure that the funds we allocate to Israel do not facilitate inhumane treatment of children. We must draw the line and advocate against such practices.
In summary, the plight of Palestinian children under Israeli military detention is a pressing human rights issue that demands attention. These children face systemic injustices, ranging from abusive treatment to a lack of basic legal protections. With a generation growing up under occupation and violence, it is vital to engage in advocacy that promotes their rights and ensures their future.
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