Israeli military court extends Hebron boy's detention

Ma'an
A Hebron child had his detention extended on Wednesday as he stood before an Israeli military tribunal at the Ofer prison, for allegedly throwing stones at Israeli forces.

The father of Al-Hassan, 12, Fadl Al-Muhtaseb told Ma'an that his son had not been indicted for any crime but nonetheless had his sentence extended.

"My child was brought to court with both his hands and feet cuffed. He was very scared of the many soldiers around him. It is ironic that the judge extended his detention until Sunday until an indictment is issued against him," he said.

Al-Mutaseb was asked to pay a fine of 5,000 shekels, which was then reduced to 2,000 shekels. "What law allows a child to be tried in court and then asks his father to pay a fine? I will not pay the fine, and you have to release my child."

"This is the law of Israel's occupation," the father said.

The lawyer representing Al-Hassan, Lea Tsemel, handed the child a small balloon from her briefcase for him to play with, which brought laughter to the court room. The presiding judge reportedly attempted to conceal his face when the toy was given to the boy.

Al-Hassan was detained on Monday with his brother Al-Amir, 9, who was later released.

According to article 37 the UN Convention on the Rights of the child, which Israel ratified on 3 October 1991, "The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time."  Full story and photo