Furthermore, night arrests jumped to 56.1 percent from 45.2 in 2012, according to 98 affidavits by children between the ages of 12 and 17 that were analyzed by DCI-Palestine. Israeli forces held children in solitary confinement for an average of ten days in 21.4 percent of all cases.
DCI-Palestine's findings follow a year-end review by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel highlighting reports of widespread torture of Palestinian prisoners, many of them children, including placing prisoners in outdoor cages during winter.
Between 500 and 700 Palestinian children are tried in Israeli military courts each year, where they are denied due process. A majority of these children are charged with throwing stones, DCI-Palestine reports.
"Despite international condemnation and awareness of Israel's widespread and systematic ill-treatment of Palestinian child prisoners, there have been no practical steps taken to curb violations," said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine, in a statement about the findings. "The international community must demand justice and accountability."
Along with the study, the group also released this short film documenting the crisis:
Alone: Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system.Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system.
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