16 Palestinian minors held without trial

Sixteen Palestinian children have been held without trial on Administrative Detention since early October, Defence for Children International (DCI) reported yesterday.

In a statement, DCI’s International Advocacy Officer and Staff Attorney Brad Parker said the children were detained without charge or trial for indefinite periods. He added that Israel must either prosecute them, giving them the right of a fair trial, or release them immediately.

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that the Administrative Detention system adopted by Israel is considered a form of psychological torture; adding that Israel is exercising this type of detention as a form of the collective punishments, which is banned under international law.

Seventeen-year-old Mohammed Abu Rub from Qabatiya, Jenin, had his administrative detention order renewed for six months after he was accused of intending to stab a soldier on 7 February.

Abu Rub said that the interrogation in Salem Camp was very brief, adding that questions were limited to whether he had an intention to stab a soldier, which he denied.