Palestinian minors receive prison sentences for throwing stones

An Israeli military court has given prison sentences to two Palestinian minors from the occupied West Bank after finding them guilty of “throwing stones” at Israeli soldiers. Waleed Shoqeer, aged 16, was given a two-year sentence, while his co-defendant and cousin Khalil Shoqeer, 17, was sent to prison for 18 months. 

AHRAR research centre, which specialises in prisoners’ issues, called the sentences a “violation of international human rights”. In a statement, AHRAR said that both boys were also detained last year. 

“The Israeli occupation authorities continue to put Palestinian minors in prison in full view of the international community but nobody does anything about it,” an AHRAR spokesperson said. “Why is it acceptable for Palestinian children to be deprived of education and a decent life in this way? They are being tortured and abused in Israeli jails and no one cares.”