Palestinian children in Israeli military detention
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35305/cl.vi24.162Keywords:
Violence, Israeli occupation, arbitrary detentions, Palestinian children, Human Rights, GazaAbstract
For decades, Israel has used arbitrary detention of children as a tactic of repression against the Palestinian population. The process of arrest, detention and prosecution to which thousands of Palestinian children have been subjected for decades is a well-documented serie of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
This article highlights the inconsistencies between international mechanisms created to protect children and the experiences of Palestinian children detained by Israel.
Through testimonies of children, their families, lawyers and human rights defenders, the pattern of arbitrary detentions is recreated, as well as the legal apartheid to which Palestinian children are subjected when tried and imprisoned by Israeli military courts.
Downloads
References
Addameer (2013) Briefing Paper by Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association: https://www.addameer.org/advocacy/briefings_papers/general-briefing-palestinian-political-prisoners-israeli-prisons-0
Albanese, Francesca (2023) Arbitrary deprivation of Liberty in the occupied Palestinian territory; the Palestinian experience behind and beyond bars. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967: https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g23/116/61/pdf/g2311661.pdf
B’Tselem y HaMoked (2010) Kept in the Dark. Treatment of Palestinian Detainees in the Petah Tikva Interrogation Facility of the Israeli Security Agency: https://hamoked.org/files/2010/113160_eng.pdf
Comité General contra la Tortura “Comentario No 2CA T/C/ISR/CO/4” (2008): https://www.ohchr.org/es/documents/general-comments-and-recommendations/catcgc2-general-comment-no-2-2008-implementation
Convención de los Derechos del Niño (1989): https://www.un.org/es/events/childrenday/pdf/derechos.pdf
Convención contra la Tortura y otros tratos o penas crueles, inhumanos o degradantes (1987): https://www.ohchr.org/es/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-against-torture-and-other-cruel-inhuman-or-degrading
Cuarta Convención de Ginebra, Convenio de Ginebra relativo a la protección debida a las personas civiles en tiempo de guerra, (1950): https://www.acnur.org/fileadmin/Documentos/BDL/2001/0189.pdf?file=fileadmin/Documentos/BDL/2001/0189
Declaración de ratificación del PIDCP por parte de Israel (1991). Consultada en https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/Treaty.aspx?CountryID=84&Lang=SP
Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos (1948): https://www.un.org/es/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Defense for Children International Palestine (2010) “Optional Protocol on the Involvement of children in armed conflict”. NGO Answers to the List of Issues: http://www.newprofile.org/data/uploads/child_soldiers/Reply_to_List_of_Issues-pdf
Defense for Children International Palestine (2023) Arbitrary by Default: https://www.dci-palestine.org/arbitrary_by_default
Defense for Children International Palestine (2024) Military detention: https://www.dci-palestine.org/children_in_israeli_detention
Defense for Children International Palestine (Mayo 2025) 37 percent of Palestinian child detainees held without charge as Israel blocks legal counsel:https://www.dci-palestine.org/37_percent_of_palestinian_child_detainees_held_without_charge_asisrael_blocks_legal_counsel_and_family_access
Defense for Children International Palestine (Abril 2025) 17 year old Palestinian child priisoner starved to death by Israeli prison guards: https://www.dci-palestine.org/17_year_old_palestinian_child_prisoner_starved_to_death_by_israeli_prison_guards
Defense for Children International Palestine (Marzo 2025) Palestinian Child from Gaza detained, tortured and starved by Israeli forces March: https://www.dci-palestine.org/palestinian_child_from_gaza_detained_tortured_and_starved_by_israeli_forces
Hajjar, Lisa (2005) Courting Conflict. The Israeli Military Court System in the West Bank and Gaza. London: The University of California Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520937987
Hartman, Joan (1985) “Working Paper for the Committee of Experts on the Article 4 Derogation Provision”, Human Rights Quarterly 7(1): 89-131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/762039
Israeli Defense Forces (2009) Order regarding Security Directives. Consolidated Version. Judea and Samaria. No. 1651: https://www.militarycourtwatch.org/files/server/MO%201651%20.pdf
Marks, Stephen (1982) “Principles and Norms of Human Rights Applicable in Emergency Situations: Underdevelopment, Catastrophes and Armed Conflicts”, The International Dimensions of Human Rights: 175-200.
Meron, Theodor (1989) Human Rights and Humanitarian Norms as Customary Law. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Military Court Watch (2024) The Lawyers' Report: 12 Years On No Accountability, No Progress: https://www.militarycourtwatch.org/page.php?id=Pm9DiBnRMja1906755AWb3hHJUny6
No Legal Frontiers (2011) All Guilty! Observations in the Military Juvenile Court: https://btckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site11082/ALL%20GUILTY%20report_en.pdf
Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos (1976): https://www.ohchr.org/es/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights
Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (2023) PCATI Annual Report: https://stoptorture.org.il/en/pcati-annual-report-2023/
Quigley, John (1989) “The Relation Between Human Rights Law and the Law of Belligerent Occupation Does An Occupied Population Have a right to Freedom of Assembly and Expression?”, Boston College International and Comparative Law Review 12(1): 1-28.
Reglas Mínimas de las Naciones Unidas para la administración de justicia de menores (1985): https://www.ohchr.org/es/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/united-nations-standard-minimum-rules-administration-juvenile
Save the children (2023) Injustice Palestinian children’s experience of the Israeli military detention system:https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/INJUSTICE-Palestinian-childrens-experience-of-the-Israeli-military-detention-system-SC-July-2023.pdf
Sedley, Stephen et al. (2012) Children in Military Custody: https://militarycourtwatch.org/files/server/CHILDREN%20IN%20MILITARY%20CUSTODY%20(2012).pdf
Yesh Din Volunteers for Human Rights (2007) Backyard Proceedings: The Implementation of Due Process Rights in the Military COurts in the Occupied Territories. Tel Aviv: Yesh Din. https://hamoked.org/files/2012/8521_eng.pdf
Yesh Din Volunteers for Human Rights (2025) Data Sheet: Law Enforcement on Israeli Civilians in the West Bank 2005-2024: https://www.yesh-din.org/en/data-sheet-law-enforcement-on-israeli-civilians-in-the-west-bank-settler-violence-2005-2024/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.









Centro de Estudios sobre Diversidad Cultural