UK Lawmakers Debate Israeli Detention of Palestinian Children

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UK Lawmakers Debate Israeli Detention of Palestinian Children

A Palestinian child raises chained hands during a protest in Gaza. | Photo: Reuters

The debate comes as Israel has been increasing the detention of Palestinians since violence broke out in the occupied territories in early October.

Members of the United Kingdom Parliament held a special session to discuss for the second time the issue of child prisoners and detainees in Israel-occupied Palestinian territories.

In 2012, the British Foreign Office sponsored a visit by distinguished lawyers to assess Israel’s efforts to improve its record following the publication of the report, “Children in Military Custody,” by a team led by the former British attorney general, Baroness Patricia Scotland.

The debate also came as Israel has been increasing the detention of Palestinians since violence broke out in the occupied territories in early October. Since then, Tel Aviv’s armed forces and police have detained over 1,200 children, according to the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

“The detention of Palestinian children by the Israeli occupation forces is a crime against humanity. What kind of threat would children pose to the Israeli soldiers,” said teleSUR Correspondent Naser Saadat, a Gaza citizen.

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In February 2014, Israel announced the introduction of a pilot program to issue written summonses instead of arresting children, the move followed the international condemnation on the arbitrary arrests of minors, However, Tel Aviv has not stopped its campaign, according to human rights organizations. Israel also tortures about 95 percent of the Palestinian prisoners it holds in prisons, including minors, women and even ill detainees.

Meanwhile, the U.K. government has continued its unconditional support for Israel. Since 2007, the British multinational security company G4S has provided security for major prisons in Israel where political prisoners are held without trial.


In a challenge to the U.K. government and G4S, considered the world's largest security company, a global network of grassroots activist groups and members of the British Parliament launched the hashtag "Stop G4S," demanding the United Nations cancel its contracts with the security company.