Palestinians: Detainees

(asked on 12th April 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the reported detention of an eight-year-old and a ten-year-old by Israeli forces while the two children were playing near their house, what recent representations he has made to the Government of Israel about the detention of Palestinian children under the age of twelve.


Answered by
James Cleverly Portrait
James Cleverly
Home Secretary
This question was answered on 20th April 2021

We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children. We remain concerned about Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children.

Reticulating Splines