Palestinian children detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, over 2014, fell victim to a pattern of abuse designed to coerce confessions, according to Defense for Children International-Palestine.DCI-Palestine stated, according to WAFA correspondence, that among the most troubling experiences were prolonged periods of solitary confinement, a correctional tactic primarily reserved for adult prisoners — and, even then, only after they are convicted.
In 2014, the average time an individual child spent in solitary confinement for interrogation purposes was 15 days, according to DCIP research. In one case, Israeli authorities kept a child in isolation for 26 days, total.
It said that between 2012 and 2014, Israeli military, police and security agents held 54 children in solitary confinement for interrogation purposes prior to charging them with any offense.
According to UNICEF, “There must be independent scrutiny of the methods of interrogation. This should include the presence of a lawyer and relative or legal guardian and audiovisual recording of all interrogations involving children.”
Data compiled by DCIP from 107 affidavits of Palestinian children, ages between 12 and 17, detained in 2014, showed the vast majority had to fend for themselves.
“Unlike their Israeli counterparts, Palestinian children have no right to be accompanied by a parent during an interrogation. In 93 percent of cases, children were deprived of legal counsel, and rarely informed of their rights, particularly their right against self-incrimination,” said DCIP.
DCIP research additionally revealed that children arrive at Israeli interrogation centers blindfolded, bound and sleep deprived, noting that more than three-quarters of child detainees endure some form of physical violence between the period of their arrest and interrogation, with half of them also strip searched.
UNICEF reports state that detainee children should be restrained only if they “pose an imminent threat to themselves or to others, and all other means have been exhausted, or as a precaution against escape during transfer, but in all cases, only for as long as is strictly necessary.”
“Almost all children confess regardless of guilt to stop further abuse. In more than a quarter of the 2014 cases, children signed statements in Hebrew, a language they do not understand,” said DCIP.
Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCIP, said, “The Israeli military detention system subjects Palestinian children to several days of prolonged interrogation and isolation with the apparent goal of obtaining a confession at all costs.”
“The military courts admit these coerced confessions as evidence to convict these children in a complete mockery of due process and fair trial standards,” he added.
The report confirmed Israel as the only state to automatically and systematically prosecute children in military courts which lack basic standards of due process.
“Around 500 to 700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system each year. The majority of Palestinian child detainees are charged with throwing stones. No Israeli children come into contact with the military court system.”
Related: 3755 Children Kidnapped In Past Four Years, 1266 in 2014 Alone
DCIP demands that Israeli authorities end night arrests, prohibit the use of solitary confinement, and ensure that evidence obtained by force or coercion during interrogations is excluded by the Israeli military courts.
The organization calls on the Israeli authorities to allow access to legal counsel prior to interrogations and the presence of a parent during those interrogations.
“Impunity for violations was a significant obstacle in 2014 as DCIP filed nine complaints with Israeli authorities concerning the ill-treatment and torture of five children while in Israeli military detention. Not a single indictment has been issued against a perpetrator.”
According to DCIP, many Palestinian families refuse to file complaints for fear of retaliation or, simply, because they do not believe the system is fair or impartial.
Recent amendments to Israeli military laws concerning children have had little to no impact on their treatment during the critical 24 to 48 hours after an arrest, where most of the ill-treatment occurs at the hands of soldiers, policemen and interrogators concluded the international group.
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