{"id":207652,"date":"2020-05-22T06:26:33","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T06:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=207652"},"modified":"2020-05-24T07:26:06","modified_gmt":"2020-05-24T07:26:06","slug":"israel-must-release-palestinian-children-un-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=207652","title":{"rendered":"Israel must release Palestinian children, UN says"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tamara Nasser \u2013 Electronic Intifada May 12, 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian boy during protests against US President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cPeace for Prosperity\u201d plan, in al-Arroub refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Hebron, on 11 February. Mosab Shawer APA images. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

United Nations officials are calling<\/a><\/strong><\/span> on Israel to immediately release all Palestinian children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Israel has been jailing more<\/a><\/strong><\/span> Palestinian children even amid the new coronavirus pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the end of March, some 194 Palestinian children were languishing in Israeli prisons. There are currently<\/strong><\/span><\/a> more than 180.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is higher than the monthly average number of children detained in 2019,\u201d UN officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf the total, the vast majority of these children have not been convicted of any offense but are being held in pre-trial detention.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to the pandemic, proceedings in the arbitrary military tribunals to which Israel subjects Palestinians, including children, have been put on hold.<\/span><\/p>\n

The statement is signed by UN humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick, UNICEF special representative in Palestine Genevieve Boutin and James Heenan, head of the United Nations Human Rights Office in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making the situation even worse, Israel has banned almost all visits to detained persons. This means that children can\u2019t see their families or their lawyers, contributing to their psychological suffering and denying them legal advice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChildren in detention face heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, with physical distancing and other preventive measures often absent or difficult to achieve,\u201d UN officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe best way to uphold the rights of detained children amidst a dangerous pandemic, in any country, is to release them from detention and to put a moratorium on new admissions into detention facilities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Support from congresswoman<\/h2>\n

Israel has the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world that systematically subjects children \u2013 and only Palestinian children \u2013 to military tribunals.<\/span><\/p>\n

US lawmakers have in recent years introduced legislation<\/strong><\/span><\/a> to curb such abuses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Congresswoman Betty McCollum<\/strong><\/span><\/a> introduced HR 2407<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, a bill that would prohibit<\/a><\/strong><\/span> US funding to Israeli military units found to be involved in abuses of Palestinian children. It also allocates millions of dollars to investigate such abuses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI support UNICEF in calling on Israel to release all Palestinian children in its military prisons,\u201d McCollum stated on Monday<\/span><\/p>\n

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I support @UNICEF<\/a> in calling on Israel to release all Palestinian children in its military prisons. The #COVID19<\/a> pandemic & the abuse inflicted on these children justifies their immediate release. @UNICEFUSA<\/a> #NoWayToTreatAChild<\/a> #HR2407<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/jp7GYOwdUG<\/a><\/p>\n

— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) May 11, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n