Head of the Census Department of the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, Abdul-Nasser Ferwana, stated that the Israeli army continues to attack and abduct Palestinian children in violation of international law, kidnapping 3755 children in the last four years, including 1266 in 2014.Ferwana, also a researcher and a former political prisoner, said the kidnapping and imprisonment of children should push the international community and different human rights groups to act and protect them, as the escalating violations are jeopardizing their future, especially since they are subject to torture and abuse in Israeli prisons.
Ferwana stated that most of the 1266 children kidnapped in 2014 were taken prisoner in the second half of the year, after three Israeli settlers went missing on June 12, 2014, and were later found dead.
“The number of arrests in 2014 witnessed a 36% increase compared to 2013, and a 43.7% increase compared to 2012,” Ferwana said, “Statistics reveal an alarming increase in the kidnapping of children, especially in occupied Jerusalem.”
He said that the army has kidnapped nearly 700 children in Jerusalem, which represents around 55.3% of the total number of children kidnapped by the army in occupied Palestine this year.
Ferwana further stated that the sharp increase in the abduction and torture of children poses serious threats to their future, and to their mental and physical well-being and development.
He said the policy of child abduction by the Israeli military requires immediate international attention in order to stop the Israeli violations against the children.
~Abd’ Al Nasser A. Ferwana
Former Detainee, Director of Statistics Department in the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, and head of the Commission’s office in the Gaza Strip.
Personal Website:
http://www.palestinebehindbars.org/
Email: ferwana2@gmail.com
Related:
Ferwana: “6059 Palestinians Kidnapped By The Army in 2014”
http://www.imemc.org/article/70132
