UN rights experts urge Israel to free jailed Palestinian teen

By Mohammad Tareq

ANKARA (AA) - A group of UN human rights experts have called on Israel to release a Palestinian teen held by Tel Aviv since 2015.

Ahmad Manasra was arrested by Israeli forces in October 2015 when he was only 13 years old. He was accused along with his cousin of stabbing two Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

While his 15-year-old cousin was shot dead at the scene, Manasra was seriously injured when he was hit by a settler’s car.

Video footage of his detention circulated on social media showed the Palestinian minor being harshly treated and severely interrogated without the presence of his parents or legal representative.

"His continuous detention, despite his deteriorating mental conditions, is a stain on all of us as part of the international human rights community," said a statement signed by the human rights experts.

The experts said Manasra’s imprisonment "has deprived him of childhood, family environment, protection, and all the rights he should have been guaranteed as a child."

"To Ahmad we say, we regret we failed to protect you," said the statement signed by a host of rights experts, including Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and Tlaleng Mofokeng, special rapporteur on the right to health.

Palestinian NGOs estimate that around 4,600 Palestinian detainees are held in Israeli jails.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar