‘
Detained: Testimonies from Palestinian Children Imprisoned by Israel’ uncovers
one of the most painful experiences that Palestinian children endure in
the ongoing Israeli occupation. Through interviews with ex-detainees
and mothers of minors presently in detention, the project documents
their stories and aims to lend a voice to those who are silenced from
fear of negative repercussions.
Over the past 11 years, according to
Defence for Children International,
some 7,500 children have been detained in Israeli prisons and detention
facilities. Muhammad Daoud Dirbas, at the age of six, was the youngest
child to have been detained by Israeli soldiers. Such practices are
considered illegal under international law, as are other policies that
children are subjected to, such as solitary confinement.
In most cases, I (Samar Hazboun) found children who suffer from various
traumas. Some were not able to talk about what had happened in prison;
others burst into tears. Many children agreed to talk “off the
record”; I thus know their stories but was not able to officially
interview them or take their pictures. In some cases, I was able to
talk to the parents once the child left the room, and thus obtained
more detailed information about how the children were dealing with what
had happened to them.
In many cases, the children suffer from insomnia, involuntary
urination, nightmares, depression, and fear of going out and facing
people.
All the children I interviewed decided not to take further legal
action, out of fear of the repercussions of doing so, and the lack of
belief that they will be guaranteed protection.
It was not possible to independently corroborate all of the facts told
by the children and their families. These are their stories, in their
words.
Dates, names and places have been changed in order to protect the children’s identities.
Testimonies:
The house of Z.S. (17) was attacked on a Thursday night at around 2
a.m. with stun grenades and tear gas. Six soldiers broke into his
family house and arrested him. The soldiers dragged him to a
neighboring settlement 1 kilometer away. During the walk, he was
beaten. He was left outside in the cold, blindfolded, for two hours.
During the interrogation, he was asked whether he wished to be treated
like an animal or a human being. He responded, “like a human being.” He
was handcuffed and blindfolded, as the interrogator electrically
shocked him several times. He then grabbed his head and banged it
against the wall until a second interrogator came in. The interrogator
asked him to lie on the ground, and started to kick him until he lost
consciousness.
Z.S. was released that same day. He has not filed any complaints for fear of the repercussions of doing so.
M.K. (18) was accused of belonging to a militant group. He was arrested
from his family home and held in prison for 18 months. He spent 45 days
of the 18 months in solitary confinement with his legs and hands tied
together. Various methods of torture were used on him, including sleep
deprivation and emotional blackmail.
When M.K. was moved out of solitary confinement, he endured group punishment. He was not allowed any visits during that period.
During the raid to arrest M.K., his house was attacked by tear gas and
stun grenades. As a result, his neighbor’s daughter lost hearing in one
ear.
M.K. is not allowed to leave the city of Nablus for the next six years.
I.B., 16 years old
I.B.’s cousin was shot dead at an Israeli checkpoint in Nablus at the
age of 15. The soldiers suspected he was wearing an explosives belt
because of a wire connected to his ear. It later transpired that it was
a mobile phone earpiece.
In order to commemorate his cousin, I.B. decided to print posters of his cousin and paste them on the walls of his neighborhood.
This was considered a crime by the IDF.
I.B. spent four days in prison and 18 days in a solitary confinement
cell. He was not able to finish his studies after his imprisonment.
Z.B., 17 years old at the time of his arrest
Z.B.’s family was asked by soldiers to immediately evacuate their house
with no prior notice. During the raid on his house, all of the family’s
furniture was broken into pieces.
When the soldiers finished raiding the house, one soldier twisted his
arms while the second blindfolded him. He and his cousin were arrested.
They were accused of belonging to a Hamas group.
Z.B. has been in prison for nine years now. He is not allowed any family visits.
M.O., 12, has been detained seven times so far. The first time, he was
arrested at the age of nine for allegedly throwing stones at settlers.
M.O.’s family is constantly targeted by settler attacks as they live in
Hay al Bustan in Silwan. Their house is slated for demolition as a part
of an Israeli plan targeting the homes (of) Arab citizens in Jerusalem.
Settler attacks are very common in that area. M.O. was attacked by
settlers and beaten up. He suffered from internal bleeding due to the
brutality of the attack.
On December 5, 2010 M.A. (13) was arrested at 2 a.m. from his family
house. He was accused of damaging settler cars and throwing stones.
When M.A. was arrested, he was severely beaten. As a result of the
torture he underwent during his time in detention, his trial had to be
postponed because of the visible bruises on his head and body.
The child was not allowed any visits during his detention. The court
ruled to release him on bail of NIS 5,000 ($1,300), in addition to
placing him under house arrest.
On January 28, 2011 Y.K. (15) went with his father to the fields of the
farm they own, which is located next to an Israeli settlement. The
family was attacked that day by armed settlers who shot Y.K. in the
head. He later died.
His younger brother, 14, was arrested and detained for 45 days.
In 2011, B.A. (15) was arrested for the first time. Shortly after his
release, he fell ill and was hospitalized. During his stay at the
hospital, the IDF went to his house to arrest him, as he was on a
wanted list. When they did not find him, they arrested his brother
instead.
The soldiers offered to release his brother in exchange for B.A.,
threatening to raid the hospital. The ”exchange” operation took place
at 6 a.m. and was filmed with the presence of medical staff.
B.A. is in detention and has attended eight court hearings for
participating in a peaceful protest against the occupation. Under
Israeli military law, all Palestinian protests are illegal.
He is not allowed any family visits.
Documentary photographer and visual artist Samar Hazboun can be followed on Twitter (@Samar_Hazboun).
Her website is here.
