Palestinian children targeted for home arrests

The phenomenon of home detentions has become a major problem for Palestinian citizens, particularly for those living in Jerusalem. Recent reports indicate that Israeli occupation of the area has doubled in the last months with the use of this policy. Palestinians are held prisoners in their own homes for long periods of time. They are detained for as long as Israeli forces decide to hold them. Director of the Centre of Media Studies, Riyad al-Ashqar told Arabstoday that the policy of home confinement has been imposed by Israelis since the beginning of 2013. Ashqar stated that more than 50 home detention orders have been made on women and children – 40 of those in Jerusalem alone. Many children were not allowed to leave for school. Other children were held at the homes of relatives. Ashqar claims that this has caused many of the youth’s psychological and social problems due to the stress of being taken away and made to live with often unfamiliar people. He added that Israeli forces target children in particular for home imprisonment, as they are too young to be detained in prison. Families affected by house arrests have appealed to international organisations sponsoring children's rights. They urge them to intervene in order to save Palestinian children from unlawful arrests and attacks.