16-year-old Palestinian, Fawzi al-Junaidi, arrested by Israeli occupation forces.
The image of Fawzi aj-Junaidi, a 16-year-old Palestinian, has been circulating worldwide on social media. Highlighting the constant abuse, both physical and mental that Israeli forces use to degrade Palestinian children.
Fawzi aj-Junaidi is shown blindfolded, confused and surrounded by around 20 Israeli occupation forces who are cladded in heavy gear and weapons. The sheer use of excessive force is apparent and questionable on the young boy.
Every year between 500 and 700 Palestinian children are arrested by Israeli forces, mainly accused of throwing stones. Once arrested children experience violent interrogation with physical and verbal abuse used to coerce false confessions. With little or no access to adequate food, water, medical care and toilet facilities, they are held in conditions which violate international humanitarian and human rights conventions.
Interrogation takes place with no parent present because they have not been told of the detention of the child or simply because they’re refused. Under Israeli military law, Palestinian children have no right to a lawyer during interrogation.
The process can be long and drawn out due to and unfair and biased court system where fines and sentences are determined by the courts themselves. Israel's Military Order 1651 provides that 'throwing an object, including a stone, at a person or property with the intent to harm the person or property carries a maximum penalty of 10 years', while throwing an object at a moving vehicle carries a maximum penalty of 20 years
Followings Donald Trump’s announcement for Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital, there has been a fresh uprising of violence. This will now give Israelis a false sense of power and entitlement which they will use how they see fit regardless of any international law.
Let’s not forget when former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin ordered Israeli forces to use excessive force when beating and arresting Palestinians. He ordered Israeli army commanders to break the bones of protestors, today this is being used to target the knees and legs to disable Palestinian youth.
The infamous one shot two kill policy where forces have targeted pregnant women. A clear declaration of ethnic cleansing.
The war against children is well and truly alive but nothing will change until Israeli authorities are held accountable for their human rights violations. These children if not given their rights to education, freedom, health and a life free from fear of persecution, will grow up to become what Israel fear.
