Palestinian Detention Bulletin- May 2011

DCI-Palestine [PDF]- DCI-Palestine issued the Detention Bulletin for May after receiving updated figures from the Israeli Prison Service(IPS)

This month saw a small decrease in the number of children prosecuted in the Israeli military courts and imprisoned. The detention figures fell by four percent compared with the previous month. However, during the same period, there was a small increase in the number of young children (12-15 years) being detained, which was up two percent.

On 2 May 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Palestinian territories occupied since June 1967 issued a statement at the end of his fact finding mission to the region. Professor Richard Falk ended his statement by saying that the

‘international community should spare no effort in compelling Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, end this prolonged and illegal occupation and fully respect the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.’

On 16 May 2011, Keith Taylor MEP wrote to Commissioner Ashton, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to express his concern at the ongoing detention of Palestinian children by the Israeli authorities. Mr Taylor also called for an independent inquiry to look into the situation facing Palestinian child prisoners. Read more