Palestinian mother sentenced as part of ruling against her son

A Palestinian mother has been put under house arrest as part of her 16-year-old son’s sentencing ahead of his court hearing next month, Ma’an reported Palestinian officials saying today.

The Palestinian Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs said in a statement that its head, Issa Qaraqe, along with Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam, visited the mother of 16-year-old Melad Mousa Najeeb in her home in occupied east Jerusalem,

Najeeb’s court hearing is due to take place on 7 March, no information has been given about the charges he is facing.

Qaraqe condemned the mother’s house arrest as a form of “collective punishment” and said it the sentence was tantamount to “turning parents into jailers.”

The statement said that due to her sentencing, Najeeb’s mother had been unable go to work or seek medical care.

Qaraqe said that Israeli forces have put at least 300 Palestinian minors under house arrest over the last three years, including 60 in 2015.

Ghannam said: “Israel is committing the worst crimes ever against Palestinian children including killing, detaining them, and depriving them of their rights and childhood.”

The two officials urged the international community to protect Palestinian children and condemn Israeli violations against minors.