Israeli police detain two Palestinian children in East Jerusalem

A spokesman for the Israeli police, Luba Simari, said in a statement: “Police forces detained on Thursday afternoon two stone throwers who turned out to be minor boys aged about 10 years from Al-Tur neighbourhood.”

According to Simari, a group of Palestinians threw stones in the neighbourhood towards an Israeli car passing on the main highway but caused no harm.

“A police patrol chased the stone throwers but also came under a hail of stones, before it could arrest two suspects who turned out to be minors. The police are working to communicate with their parents,” she added.

“We emphasise that this repeated scene where children and boys under the age of criminal responsibility participate in acts of disorder that threaten the safety of their lives and the lives of others is very dangerous work, and we expect their parents and other adults to express the necessary responsibility towards their children and prevent them from engaging in criminal activities” Simari said.

Several Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem have witnessed clashes during the past few days between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he will tighten sanctions against those who throw stones and Molotov cocktails.