3 Jerusalemites jailed for throwing Molotov cocktails

The Israeli Central Court in Jerusalem yesterday sentenced three Jerusalemite Palestinians to prison after charging them with throwing Molotov cocktails at Israeli settler cars in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina.

The Head of the Jerusalem Committee for Families of Prisoners Amjad Abu Assab said in a statement that the central court judge sentenced 20-year-old Wisam Mohammad Salah Kastero to ten years in prison, including a 15,000 shekel ($3,994) fine. His brother, 18-year-old Nour Al-Din Kastero, was sentenced to five years in prison. The other prisoner, 18-year-old Ahmad Azmi Hamouda, was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined with 10,000 shekels ($2,663).

The Kastero brothers and Hamouda were detained a year ago after throwing Molotov cocktails at Israeli settler vehicles reportedly in response to the arson attack on the Dawabsheh family last year.

Palestinians are routinely imprisoned for throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles, with Israeli authorities passing harsh penalties for stone-throwers in recent years.

In 2015, legislation was passed in the Israeli Knesset allowing sentencing for up to 20 years for anyone convicted of throwing stones at vehicles if intent could be proven. However, the law allows the Israeli state to imprison someone for up to 10 years without proof of intent. Meanwhile, Israelis who throw stones are rarely detained or prosecuted.

In November, Israel established legislation sentencing Palestinians to a minimum of three years in prison for throwing a stone at an Israeli. Included in the legislation are provisions allowing Israeli authorities to strip stone throwers of their state benefits and cancelling access to national health insurance and social services for the families of the accused.