Detention Bulletin

June 2013

Overview June 2013

Detention Figures
193 children detained ( 13.5%) 102 detained inside Israel (53%) 41 children aged 12-15 ( 14.6%)

Israeli forces detain a Palestinian youth at Huwara checkpoint near Nablus. Ihab Gafree

As of June 30, 2013, a total of 193 Palestinian children were imprisoned and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The number of children between the ages of 12 and 15 was 41, a decrease of 14.6 percent, but still higher than the annual averages of the past three years. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child released a report in June finding that Israel forces continue to commit serious violations against Palestinian children, including systematic ill-treatment of children in Israeli military detention. DCI-Palestine submitted a report to four separate United Nations independent human rights experts on June 25 that detailed the widespread and systematic ill-treatment Palestinian children

encounter in the Israeli detention system during 2012.

military

DCI-Palestine NEWS ALERTS

30 June 2013 Report details illtreatment of Palestinian children by Israeli forces 21 June 2013 UN says Israel continues to systematically violate Palestinian childrens rights 6 June 2013 Israeli forces paralyze youth at Jalazoun refugee camp 4 June 2013 Palestinian teen describes being used as a human shield by Israeli forces 22 May 2013 Video: Bullet in the head For more visit: http://bit.ly/WQmfYp

The report details the type of violations children encounter in the system, including the use of hand ties in 97% of cases; use of blindfolds in 95% of cases; and no lawyer present during interrogation in 99% of cases The report highlighted that Palestinian children were subjected to physical violence during arrest, transfer or interrogation in 74% of cases. Solitary confinement was used for interrogation purposes on Palestinian children in 19% of cases. The report was based on 108 affidavits collected during 2012 from Palestinian children arrested in the West Bank and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system.

Number of Palestinian Children in Israeli Detention: January 2008-June 2013

450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Jan 1 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

DCI-Palestine | Detention Bulletin|Issue 42|June 2013

JUNE 2013 IN FIGURES

Each year approximately 500700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 years, are detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The most common charge is for throwing stones. The overwhelming majority of these children are detained inside Israel in contravention of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Total
According to the latest figures compiled by DCI from sources including the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) and Israeli army temporary detention facilities, there were 193 Palestinian children (12-17 years) in Israeli detention at the end of June 2013, a 13.5% decrease from the previous month.

Total number of Palestinian children in Israeli detention at the end of each month since Jan 2009 - Note: These figures are not cumulative
Jan 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Aver.

389 318 222 170 223

423 343 221 187 236

420 342 226 206 238

391 335 220 220 238

346 305 211 234 223

355 291 209 221 193

342 284 202 211

339 286 180 195

326 269 164 189

325 256 150 164

306 228 161 178

305 213 135 195

355 289 192 198 225

12-15 year olds

In June, a total of 41 Palestinian children between the ages of 12 and 15 were imprisoned and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. This represents a 14.5% decrease from the previous month.

Number of young (12-15) Palestinians in Israeli detention at the end of each month since January 2009 - Note: These figures are not cumulative
Jan 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Aver.

50 44 34 26
31

54 41 45 24 39

53 39 45 31 39

47 32 37 33 44

39 25 38 39 48

47 23 38 35 41

42 18 40 34

39 20 34 30

40 32 35 28

44 34 30 21

41 32 33 21

42 30 19 23

44 31 36 29 40

Girls in detention
During June, there were no Palestinian girls held in Israeli military detention.

Number of Palestinian girls in Israeli detention at the end of each month since January 2009 - Note: These figures are not cumulative
Jan 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Aver.

5 0 1 0 1

7 0 0 0 1

6 0 0 0 1

6 1 0 0 1

6 0 0 0 1

5 0 0 0 0

4 0 0 1

3 0 0 1

3 0 0 1

0 0 0 1

0 1 0 1

0 1 1 1

3.8 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.8

Administrative detention
There are currently no Palestinian children being held without charge or trial in Israeli administrative detention. DCI continues to recommend that no child should be the subject of administrative detention and Israeli military law should be amended to reflect this position.

Number of Palestinian children held in Israeli administrative detention at the end of each month since January 2009 - Note: These figures are not cumulative
Jan 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Aver.

5 0 1 0 0

6 0 0 0 0

2 2 0 0 0

2 2 0 0 0

1 2 0 0 0

1 2 0 0 0

1 2 0 0

1 2 0 0

1 2 0 0

1 2 0 0

1 2 0 0

0 1 1 0

1.8 1.6 0.2 0 0

DCI-Palestine | Detention Bulletin|Issue 42|June 2013

Case summaries
Lawyers and fieldworkers for DCI-Palestine collect sworn affidavits from Palestinian children in prison and upon their release. These affidavits are drafted in Arabic and further reviewed by trained staff to determine appropriate follow-up action. Each year, around 100 of these affidavits are translated into English from which brief case summaries are produced. New case summaries are regularly posted here.

17 June 2013 Name of victim: Accusation: Location: Violation: Anas H. (16) Throwing stones, possession of live ammunition Balata refugee camp, Nablus Night arrest, ill-treatment, unlawful transfer

Israeli soldiers arrested Anas, 16, from his home in the middle of the night and accused him of throwing stones and possessing live ammunition. Around 4 am, Anas was woken by his father as Israeli soldiers banged on the front door to their apartment building. Anas was taken outside, blindfolded and his hands were tied behind his back. At least two soldiers struck him with the stocks of their rifles, knocking him to the ground where he was then kicked several times. I knew they were coming for me because about two months ago they arrested my friends Sami and Ali, says Anas. Israeli soldiers transferred Anas to Huwara interrogation and detention center where he was strip searched and detained in a small cell until 11 am the next morning without access to a toilet or food and water. Around 4 pm the next day he arrived at Megiddo prison inside Israel, where he was stripsearched upon arrival. On 18 June, he was interrogated at Salem interrogation and detention center. After an interrogator shouted and attempted to intimidate him for about two hours, Anas refused to sign any papers without reading them first. The interrogator eventually gave in and Anas was allowed to read the statement. Even though Anas had denied all allegations, the interrogator had drafted a confession. Anas repeatedly refused to sign the statement and the interrogator eventually allowed him to write his own. Anas appeared in Salem military court for the first time on 19 June.

22 June 2013 Name of victim: Accusation: Location: Violation: Mahdi M. (16) Throwing stones Azzun, Qalqiliya Night arrest, ill-treatment, unlawful transfer

Israeli soldiers arrested Mahdi, 16, from his home in the middle of the night and accused him of throwing stones. Around 2 am, Mahdi heard banging on the downstairs front door of his building. As he went to see what was happening, he saw about 10 Israeli soldiers headed up the stairs. They stormed his apartment and asked for his ID, then grabbed Mahdi and took him down to the street where he was bound, blindfolded and put into a military jeep. He was transferred to a military camp and forced to sit outside on the
3
DCI-Palestine | Detention Bulletin|Issue 42|June 2013

Case summaries, continued

ground. While I was sitting on the ground, I felt something being sprayed on my arms, legs and all over my clothes, says Mahdi. It felt like powder and it was itchy. The next morning Mahdi was interrogated at Ariel police station where he signed a statement written in Hebrew. He was then transferred to Megiddo prison inside Israel and released later that day at Salem checkpoint near the West Bank city of Jenin.

Recommendations
No child should be prosecuted in military courts which lack comprehensive fair trial and juvenile justice standards. DCI-Palestine recommends that as a minimum safeguard in the light of consistent reports of ill-treatment and torture, the following: 1. Ensure that no child is interrogated in the absence of a lawyer of their choice and family member; 2. Ensure that all interrogations of children are audio-visually recorded; 3. Ensure that all evidence suspected of being obtained through ill-treatment or torture be rejected by the military courts; 4. Ensure that all credible allegations of ill-treatment and torture be thoroughly and impartially investigated and those found responsible for such abuse be brought to justice; 5. The practice of using solitary confinement on children must be stopped immediately.

For more information on Palestinian child detainees

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DCI-Palestine Report
Bound, Blindfolded & Convicted: Children held in military detention

Other reports
UNICEF Children in Israeli Military Detention WCLAC Womens Voices: Glimpses of life under occupation Breaking the Silence Soldiers Testimonies: Children and Youth UK lawyers Children in Military Custody

Palestinian youth is arrested at Huwara checkpoint near Nablus. Ihab Gafree

DCI-Palestine | Detention Bulletin|Issue 42|June 2013 DCI-Palestine Detention Bulletin, Issue 37 January 2013