Jailed Palestinian child recalls detention, humiliation

By Lubaba Zoukan

RAMALLAH (AA) – A Palestinian minor has recalled his detention and humiliation by Israeli soldiers during protests against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Fawzi al-Juneidi, 16, was detained in the West Bank city of Hebron last week and dragged away blindfolded by a dozen heavily armed Israeli soldiers.

He has since been held in Israeli custody until a lawyer managed to meet him at the Ofter military prison.

Lawyer Maamoun al-Hashim, quoting the child, said he was assaulted by dozen of soldiers, who kept hitting and insulting him while laying on the ground, according to a statement by the Palestinian Prisoners Society on Saturday.

“I was tied up by plastic bandages and dragged away blindfolded,” the statement quoted the child as saying.

He said he was kept inside a dark room, where he was beaten. “I felt I was going to fall unconscious as a result of torture,” the child was quoted as saying.

The Palestinian lawyer said Al-Juneidi had been interrogated while being handcuffed.

“He has been denied access to his lawyer or family visits,” he said.

Al-Juneidi’s remand in custody has been extended until Dec. 18.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, roughly 300 children continue to be held in detention facilities across Israel.

Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has triggered a wave of protests in the Palestinian territories and several Arab and Muslim countries.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.