Israel sentences Palestinian minor to 10 years in prison

An Israeli court in Jerusalem sentenced on Wednesday a Palestinian girl to ten years in prison over an alleged stabbing attack, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Local sources told Wafa that the 17-year-old girl, Malak Salman, from Beit Safafa in occupied Jerusalem, was accused by the Israeli court of “possessing a knife and attempting to stab Israelis.”

Salman was arrested by the Israeli forces on 9th February 2016 when they stopped her near the Old City’s Damascus Gate (Bab Al-Amoud) and attempted to check her schoolbag. Since then, she was transferred to different Israeli prisons, most recently to HaSharon prison.

She had appeared to court several times and was convicted on 17th February, but the verdict was postponed.

The occupation authorities recently passed laws that allow the passing of heavy sentences against Palestinian prisoners and minors who allegedly attack Israeli targets.

Israel currently holds 6,500 Palestinians in 22 prisons including 29 detained since the Oslo agreement in 1993, 13 lawmakers and 57 Palestinian females, 13 of whom are minors. In addition to another 500 Palestinians who have been held in administrative detention.