PALESTINIAN MINORS
PHOTO SERIESFor years human right organizations speak of shame about how these minors are treated. I spoke to those these minors and photographed them.
According to the 'Defence for Children International - Palestine' (DCIP), an organization that monitors the number of arrested Palestinian children, 500 to 700 Palestinian children are arrested each year (2016). In 60% of the cases the arrests are taking place in the middle of the night. The children are taken away in the middle of the night and parents are doomed to watch and prohibited from interference. Three-quarters of these children face torture while being captive. The torture they undergo leaves psychological damage for which no help is being provided.
In 90% of the cases, parents don't know to which prison their child is taken to. In 97% of the cases parents and lawyers are not allowed during interrogations. And in 60% of the cases the arrested children end up in prisons outside the West Bank, which means they can have their first family visit after three months. Moreover, its hard for Palestinian families in the West Bank to get permission to visit their children in Israeli territory.
Jibreen (17), Jerusalem old city
I was accused of throwing broken glass at the soldiers, but I had done nothing. After two days of detention I got house arrest for 10 days. I can not go outside. If I step outside the door my parents have to pay 9,000 shekels (2,000 euros). I watch mostly TV and hang on the bench.
Manal (43, mother)
The moment the soldiers Jibreen arrested he was sleeping on the couch at home. It was Ramadan, he was fasting, they attacked the house, woke him up and took him. I took my other children in my arms and cried because I couldn't do anything.
I was accused of throwing broken glass at the soldiers, but I had done nothing. After two days of detention I got house arrest for 10 days. I can not go outside. If I step outside the door my parents have to pay 9,000 shekels (2,000 euros). I watch mostly TV and hang on the bench.
Manal (43, mother)
The moment the soldiers Jibreen arrested he was sleeping on the couch at home. It was Ramadan, he was fasting, they attacked the house, woke him up and took him. I took my other children in my arms and cried because I couldn't do anything.
Mohammed (14), Jerusalem old city
I was stopped once at the Damascus gate, for no reason. They beat me and broke both of my legs. Months later they came to arrest me. It was 5:00 pm when the soldiers invaded the house. My mother woke me up and told me to wash my face and go with them. They put me into a car, the air conditioning, it was freezing. They started beating and kicking me. I got nine months house arrest.
I was stopped once at the Damascus gate, for no reason. They beat me and broke both of my legs. Months later they came to arrest me. It was 5:00 pm when the soldiers invaded the house. My mother woke me up and told me to wash my face and go with them. They put me into a car, the air conditioning, it was freezing. They started beating and kicking me. I got nine months house arrest.
Ahmad (13), Aida Camp
I feel emotional stress and do not play outside as often as I did. When I hear that the Israeli soldiers are back in the camp for arrests, I can not sleep, because I'm scared they will take me back again.
Sumaya (40, mother)
Ahmad has changed a lot. He is constantly angry and irritated. I do not go to family visits anymore, because I don't want to leave the kids at home alone. What if the soldiers invade the house when I'm not at home?
I feel emotional stress and do not play outside as often as I did. When I hear that the Israeli soldiers are back in the camp for arrests, I can not sleep, because I'm scared they will take me back again.
Sumaya (40, mother)
Ahmad has changed a lot. He is constantly angry and irritated. I do not go to family visits anymore, because I don't want to leave the kids at home alone. What if the soldiers invade the house when I'm not at home?
Dunia (18), Dheisheh camp
During my time in prison last year, I was depressed. The reason they arrested me was because someone gave away my name during an iterrogation. I don't know why. I couldn't get used to prison life. The other girls in my cell helped me to live every day. After I got out I couldn't sleep for a long time. It was hard to pick up my normal life again. I'm still angry and frustrated. Sometimes I scream my anger out.
During my time in prison last year, I was depressed. The reason they arrested me was because someone gave away my name during an iterrogation. I don't know why. I couldn't get used to prison life. The other girls in my cell helped me to live every day. After I got out I couldn't sleep for a long time. It was hard to pick up my normal life again. I'm still angry and frustrated. Sometimes I scream my anger out.
Ahmad (17), Beit Ummar
I help my father with his work. I don't go to school, I missed a year and now I have no desire to go. I'm not afraid of being arrested again, but my mother worries about her children. I have five brothers and two sisters. I tell them often not to get to close to the soldiers and not to throw any stones.
I help my father with his work. I don't go to school, I missed a year and now I have no desire to go. I'm not afraid of being arrested again, but my mother worries about her children. I have five brothers and two sisters. I tell them often not to get to close to the soldiers and not to throw any stones.
Nouran (15), Bethlehem
During the interrogation, a senior officer came to me. He knew my father and showed me a video of the moment when they shot him. He told me how they had planned my father's death and laughed. I could only cry. Now I have difficulty in falling asleep, everything that happened just keeps repeating in my head.
During the interrogation, a senior officer came to me. He knew my father and showed me a video of the moment when they shot him. He told me how they had planned my father's death and laughed. I could only cry. Now I have difficulty in falling asleep, everything that happened just keeps repeating in my head.
Ameer (12), Hebron
I was ten years old when I got arrested for the first time. They arrested me 5 times in total. The last time I got arrested I was washing my dad's car outside. There were boys on the road throwing stones to kolonists. At a certain moment they started running towards me, they passed and dissapeared at the end of the road. When the soldiers came they thought I was one of the boys. They tightened my hands with plastic wires and kept me for hours somewhere outside the village and released me afterwards. I try to be careful. Whenever I hear soldiers are close to our house I stay inside with my parents. Trying to avoid contact.
I was ten years old when I got arrested for the first time. They arrested me 5 times in total. The last time I got arrested I was washing my dad's car outside. There were boys on the road throwing stones to kolonists. At a certain moment they started running towards me, they passed and dissapeared at the end of the road. When the soldiers came they thought I was one of the boys. They tightened my hands with plastic wires and kept me for hours somewhere outside the village and released me afterwards. I try to be careful. Whenever I hear soldiers are close to our house I stay inside with my parents. Trying to avoid contact.
PALESTINIAN MINORS
PHOTO SERIESFor years human right organizations speak of shame about how these minors are treated. I spoke to those these minors and photographed them.
According to the 'Defence for Children International - Palestine' (DCIP), an organization that monitors the number of arrested Palestinian children, 500 to 700 Palestinian children are arrested each year (2016). In 60% of the cases the arrests are taking place in the middle of the night. The children are taken away in the middle of the night and parents are doomed to watch and prohibited from interference. Three-quarters of these children face torture while being captive. The torture they undergo leaves psychological damage for which no help is being provided.
In 90% of the cases, parents don't know to which prison their child is taken to. In 97% of the cases parents and lawyers are not allowed during interrogations. And in 60% of the cases the arrested children end up in prisons outside the West Bank, which means they can have their first family visit after three months. Moreover, its hard for Palestinian families in the West Bank to get permission to visit their children in Israeli territory.
Jibreen (17), Jerusalem old city
I was accused of throwing broken glass at the soldiers, but I had done nothing. After two days of detention I got house arrest for 10 days. I can not go outside. If I step outside the door my parents have to pay 9,000 shekels (2,000 euros). I watch mostly TV and hang on the bench.
Manal (43, mother)
The moment the soldiers Jibreen arrested he was sleeping on the couch at home. It was Ramadan, he was fasting, they attacked the house, woke him up and took him. I took my other children in my arms and cried because I couldn't do anything.
Mohammed (14), Jerusalem old city
I was stopped once at the Damascus gate, for no reason. They beat me and broke both of my legs. Months later they came to arrest me. It was 5:00 pm when the soldiers invaded the house. My mother woke me up and told me to wash my face and go with them. They put me into a car, the air conditioning, it was freezing. They started beating and kicking me. I got nine months house arrest.
Ahmad (13), Aida Camp
I feel emotional stress and do not play outside as often as I did. When I hear that the Israeli soldiers are back in the camp for arrests, I can not sleep, because I'm scared they will take me back again.
Sumaya (40, mother)
Ahmad has changed a lot. He is constantly angry and irritated. I do not go to family visits anymore, because I don't want to leave the kids at home alone. What if the soldiers invade the house when I'm not at home?
Dunia (18), Dheisheh camp
During my time in prison last year, I was depressed. The reason they arrested me was because someone gave away my name during an iterrogation. I don't know why. I couldn't get used to prison life. The other girls in my cell helped me to live every day. After I got out I couldn't sleep for a long time. It was hard to pick up my normal life again. I'm still angry and frustrated. Sometimes I scream my anger out.
Ahmad (17), Beit Ummar
I help my father with his work. I don't go to school, I missed a year and now I have no desire to go. I'm not afraid of being arrested again, but my mother worries about her children. I have five brothers and two sisters. I tell them often not to get to close to the soldiers and not to throw any stones.
Nouran (15), Bethlehem
During the interrogation, a senior officer came to me. He knew my father and showed me a video of the moment when they shot him. He told me how they had planned my father's death and laughed. I could only cry. Now I have difficulty in falling asleep, everything that happened just keeps repeating in my head.
Ameer (12), Hebron
I was ten years old when I got arrested for the first time. They arrested me 5 times in total. The last time I got arrested I was washing my dad's car outside. There were boys on the road throwing stones to kolonists. At a certain moment they started running towards me, they passed and dissapeared at the end of the road.
When the soldiers came they thought I was one of the boys. They tightened my hands with plastic wires and kept me for hours somewhere outside the village and released me afterwards. I try to be careful. Whenever I hear soldiers are close to our house I stay inside with my parents. Trying to avoid contact.