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Israel jails Palestinian minor for 12 years

In footage from the scene, settlers could be heard telling him to “die” and swearing at him as he lay bleeding on the ground

November 7, 2016 at 4:04 pm

Ahmed Manasra (L), a 13-year old Palestinian accused of taking part in the stabbing of two Israelis earlier this month, is escorted by Israeli security during a hearing at a Jerusalem court on October 30, 2015 [AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images]

An Israeli court sentenced a 14-year-old Palestinian boy to 12 years in prison today for his part in a stabbing attack that wounded two Israelis in October last year.

The boy, named by Palestinian officials as Ahmed Manasra, carried out the attack in an Israeli settlement north of Jerusalem along with his 15-year-old cousin. The cousin was shot and killed by an Israeli passerby, while Manasra was wounded.

In footage from the scene, settlers could be heard telling him to “die” and swearing at him as he lay bleeding on the ground.

The attack seriously wounded a 12-year-old Israeli boy who was riding on his bicycle and lightly injured a man. Both have recovered.

At the time, the incident caused widespread controversy because the Palestinian authorities accused Israel of killing both attackers. They subsequently discovered that Manasra was still alive and being treated for his injuries in an Israeli hospital.

In passing sentence, the Jerusalem District Court barred the naming of the boy because he is a minor. But his identity has already been exposed by Israeli authorities and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Association issued a press release naming him.

Video footage leaked last November shows Israeli authorities hurling abuse at the then 13-year-old Manasra during interrogation. The officer can he heard screaming at him, insulting him and trying to coerce him to confess, calling him a “liar”. Manasra was interrogated without the presence of a lawyer.

As a result, Mansara says: “I will say that I did this, but I don’t remember. I’ll say that I did it, what more do you want from me? I’ll say I did this.”