Bil'in : IOF Kidnap and Terrorize "Confession" Out of 13 Years Old Boy

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday June 10, 2010 10:32

by TD - Free Palestine Campaign

Some 700 Palestinian children are arrested annually by Israeli Occupation Forces

Not sated with the wanton butchery of nine human rights activists aboard the Mavi Marmara and the brutalisation of Huwaida Arraf aboard Challenger 1 - another Gaza flotilla ship bound for Gaza - the Israeli army came back for second helpings last Friday in Bil'in, this time, thankfully, with murder not in mind, just with appetite for wanton arrests, child kidnapping and terrorization. Huwaida Arraf, one of the leading lights from the Free Gaza Movement was again on their target list and she was arbitrarily arrested along with villager; Ashraf Abu Rahmah and an Israeli Anarchist Against the Wall at the peaceful demonstration against the nearby Aparheid- Annexation Wall in Bil'in that morning.

That evening, thirteen year old Fadi Al-Khatib, whilst tending his families olive grove that adjoins the Wall with his father, Fathel, was literally kidnapped in front of his distraught parents and carted off for interrogation - the modus operandi of the Israeli Occupation Forces in Bil'in is to lie in wait, often on comfortable camping matts, in the olive groves so as to ambush and spirit away unsuspecting children and teenagers and terrorise false confessions out of them. On 25th May last, the IOF burnt down an olive tree in a nearby grove of 20 trees- coupled with the many trees torched at the weekly Friday demonstration, a wanton act calculated to damage the already fragile economy of the village.

Prior to being carted off to a detention centre, the lightly clad youth was handcuffed in a stress position and left in the chill air for two hours. Before his interrogation, he was kicked a number of times and struck on the neck, Without the presence of a legal representative during the interrogation, he was threatened with torture and literally forced to sign a false confession admitting to throwing stones at the IOF- the offending soldier grabbed his wrist and forced the signing. According to Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Unit Coordinator with Defence for Children International, Palestine Section, since the start of the second intifada some 700 Palestinian children are arrested annually by Israeli Occupation Forces, routinely tortured or terrorized with threats of torture, sexually abused or threatened with sexual abuse to force false confessions which the corrupt Israeli judicial system then use to incarcerate the minors or adult activists striving against the Occupation.

Ayed Abu Eqtaish: Unit Coordinator, Defence for Children International/Palestine Section

Caption: Video Id: vMhghxL4t2I Type: Youtube Video
Bil'in: IOF Kidnap 13 Years Old Boy; Fadi Al-Khatib 4-06-2010

Caption: Video Id: CeFDSXMxiOg Type: Youtube Video
Bil'in: IOF Terrorize "Confession" Out of 13 Year Old Boy 9-06-2010

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Comments (6 of 6)

Threatened with rape, beaten with a chair, then forced to sign a confession in Hebrew

Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:09

Maan News Agency is reporting that: Palestinian children are routinely tortured during periods of detention by Israeli forces, a report recently released by Defence For Children International (DCI) found. The document, based on hundreds of sworn, independent affidavits, was been submitted to the UN Committee Against Torture following its release, and is expected to renew an international challenge to Israeli detention practices. According to the report, some 700 Palestinian children are arrested, interrogated and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system each year. As of 2010, 328 minors were being held illegally inside Israel.

Out of 100 testimonials from children of different ages and from different geographical locations across Palestine, DCI found that 69% were beaten or kicked during their detention by Israeli forces, and 81% made forced confessions during interrogations, many of which took place with the child blindfolded and handcuffed. Of those who gave testimonials, 32% signed confessions in Hebrew, the report found. In the latest report, DCI also submitted 50 cases of children suffering extreme abuse. The cases include a 16 year old who was arrested at 2am, threatened with rape, beaten with a chair, then forced to sign a confession in Hebrew, and another 16 year old, who had his legs and nose broken during his detention, where he reported being beaten with a helmet and an iron rod.

Israel, one of the worst violators of international and humanitarian law cynically sought refuge in international law at the UN's Committee against Torture (CAT) last year: The last inquiry into the issue saw former Israeli representative to the UN body Aharon Leshno Yaar address the UN committee against torture's 42nd session on 5 May 2009, where defended the stance, citing 1967 Jordanian law as setting the age of majority at 16. The ambassador went on to claim that under the international laws regarding occupation, a change to the legal infrastructure would be prohibited (more on link).

Essential viewing

by Nora M.

Thu Jun 10, 2010 16:56

Jamal Elshayyal is a news producer for Aljazeera and was filming on the Marvi Marmara when the Israelis attacked - in this video, Jamal describes live fire coming from a hovering helicopter with at least one humanitarian activist shot in the top of the head before the commandos abseiled down to the deck of the ship to murder more, he describes live fire continuing after a white flag was hoisted and after Tannoy announcements that the ship had surrendered. Jamal further describes the Israeli response to at least eight appeals for medical assistance broadcast over the Tannoy system; the system was turned off and assistance denied.

Caption: Video Id: FWYKHcwrak0&feature= Type: Youtube Video
Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Jamal Elshayyal | Palestine Solidarity Campaign meeting

passing comment

by No one

Thu Jun 10, 2010 14:55

This is incredible documentation. Thank you.

that guy in the uniform in shot 1

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party

Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:58

Yeah,the one with his back half turned, facing away from the camera, I'd recognise that right ear anywhere.I was wondering where Minister Martin had gotten to.Nice shot TD, stay well.

Huwaida: A Woman of Singular Courage

by TD - FPC

Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:57

Palestinian-American human rights activist, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement and currently chair of the Free Gaza Movement, Huwaida Arraf was on board Challenger 1, one of the six siege-breaking ships ferrying desperately needed humanitarian supplies to Gaza when the flotilla was murderously attacked in international waters by Israeli commandos on 31st May 2010 - nine other human rights activists aboard the Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara were murdered in cold blood, . Huwaida witnessed the terrorist attack on the Marmara before her own ship was boarded and its passengers and crew subjected to Israeli savagery. In August 2008, Huwaida was on the Free Gaza boats that sailed from Cyprus to Gaza, the first boats to challenge Israel's closure of the Strip and dock in Gaza Port in over 40 years. She has since lead 4 other successful solidarity missions to Gaza with the Free Gaza Movement. In February 2009 Huwaida was part of a National Lawyers Guild delegation that traveled to Gaza to document possible Israeli violations of international law and war crimes that may have been committed during Operation Cast Lead.

Huwaida Arraf prior to her arrest at last Friday's protest in Bil'in