Israeli Knesset passes law allowing imprisonment of Palestinian children under 14

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli Knesset (parliament) on Thursday passed a law authorizing the detention of Palestinian minors under 14.

The bill was approved in the second and third readings by 55–33 votes, making it an effective law, the Knesset said in a statement.

The legislation, a temporary five-year measure, allows courts to order the detention of children under 14 in closed facilities if convicted of murder involving “terrorism or terrorist activities.”
Upon reaching 14, the child would continue to serve their sentence in prison, according to the statement.

The measure could be extended by up to two years upon approval from the justice and welfare ministers and the Knesset’s Constitution Committee.

The law also includes a three-year provision allowing courts to jail minors in prison instead of juvenile facilities for up to 10 days if they are deemed dangerous or pose a threat to others.

Courts may also extend this period if circumstances warrant, the Knesset said.

More than 270 Palestinian minors are currently held in Israeli detention, despite UN resolutions and international treaties prohibiting the imprisonment of children, according to Palestinian right groups.

Early Thursday, the Knesset also passed a controversial law that allows the deportation of family members of Palestinians involved in attacks against Israelis.

The legislation is widely seen to be targeting Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinian residents of the occupied East Jerusalem.

The law did not specify where families or relatives would be deported. Yet, Israeli media says that Gaza will be a destination for those being deported.

These moves come as tension continues to escalate across the Palestinian territories over Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 43,400 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack last year.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio