Stolen children and childhoods

In 9 years Maysoon Manasra has rarely been allowed to see her son - and has only once been able to touch him - and that was to hold one finger for two minutes.  “Every time I see my son, I notice marks of torture and suffering on him.”

Her son, Ahmed Manasra was 13 when he was arrested in 2015. During his arrest, he suffered a fractured skull and internal bleeding, and was then subjected to a brutal interrogation by three Israeli officials - without the presence of a parent or lawyer – where he was repeatedly shouted at, insulted and threatened.

This assault and subsequent imprisonment has seriously damaged his mental wellbeing and sense of self - and has resulted in diagnoses of psychosis and severe depression. Despite needing care, and his family and community, Israeli authorities put him in solitary confinement in November 2021. He has been held captive in such conditions ever since. 

The Zionist occupation state has imprisoned over 12,000 Palestinian children since 2000 and currently holds around 345 captive. Ayham al-Salaymeh, arrested for throwing stones aged 12, was kept under house arrest until he reached 14 and could be ‘legally’ imprisoned. In December of this past year, he was put into Israeli prison. And now, since November 2024, it is possible to imprison children as young as 12. 

According to Addameer Prisoner Support, “The majority of [Palestinian children imprisoned] were accused of throwing stones, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison under military law.”

Israel regularly arrests and detains children - some as young as 10. Arrests and detention more often than not involve being blindfolded, strip searched, and physical violence.  Arrested children aren’t allowed contact with their parents and frequently undergo interrogation without a lawyer or parent present. Their only human contact is with interrogators.

For Ahmed, now 22, and many more like him, the nightmare continues with Israeli authorities intent on breaking imprisoned Palestinians physically and mentally. 

Sources;

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/8/31/to-be-a-palestinian-child-trying-to-survive-israeli-jail 

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actions/palestinians-solitary-confinement-renewed

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestinian-becomes-israel-youngest-ever-prisoner

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/09/israel-opt-after-nearly-2-years-in-solitary-confinement-ahmad-manasra-too-ill-to-attend-his-hearing/

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220427-i-am-dreaming-of-the-moment-i-hug-him-says-ahmed-al-manasras-mother/