Israeli forces detain 2 children in Hebron

Ma'an
Israeli forces detained two children near the Yashai settlement in central Hebron on Monday, after a scuffle that left an Israeli child lightly injured.

The two, identified as Ibrahim Abu Ayasha, 11, and Sharif Abu Ayasha, 12, were reportedly on their way home in the Tel Ar-Ramedia area.

An unidentified child of one of the Israeli settlers in the area stood in the way of the children, witnesses said, and broke a bird cage that one of them was carrying. An ensuing scuffle led to the Israeli child being injured.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers offered initial medical assistance to the Israeli child, whose injuries were described as light.

Israeli forces detained the two Palestinian children, the spokeswoman confirmed, adding that they were being held by Israeli police in Hebron in connection with the incident. Police were questioning both sides, she said.

Three Palestinian children were detained by Israeli soldiers a day earlier as they gathered herbs in At-Tuwani village, southern Hebron, a peace organization reported. The three were released 15 minutes later.

Meanwhile, Hassan Al-Muhtaseb, 12, was released from custody when an Israeli military court in Ofer prison ordered his father to pay a 2,000-shekel fine. Hassan was detained last Monday with his brother Al-Amir, 9, who was later released.  Full story