Israeli forces are engaged in the enforced disappearance of Palestinian children, systematically concealing their numbers, names, and whereabouts. According to Save the Children, 21,000 innocent lives are currently unaccounted for. We urgently call upon international human rights organizations, UN agencies, and UN Member states to immediately end Israel's forced disappearances, abolish illegal administrative detention, and ensure the safe return of these missing children.

On September 1, 2024, the world was shaken by the abduction of 8-year-old Duha Talat by the Israeli Occupation Forces near the Rafah crossing in Gaza. A soldier, Ido Zahar, initially posted a haunting photo of Duha on his Instagram. The post was swiftly deleted, yet Duha’s fate remains shrouded in uncertainty. 

The chilling accounts do not end there. EuroMed documented the abduction of a 12-year-old girl at the Netzarim checkpoint, taken under the false pretence of being an Israeli hostage, despite her presence with her Arabic-speaking parents. An infant was also snatched from her home in Gaza by Israeli officer Harel, her fate still unknown.

On April 4, 2024, Israeli forces released 1,506 Palestinian hostages, including 43 children. Their testimonies reveal a landscape of horror, stories of severe abuse, where children were subjected to beatings, torture, and unspeakable acts of violence. Picture these vulnerable souls, blindfolded and handcuffed, facing dog attacks ,and  deprivation of basic needs. 

Israel has refused to disclose the numbers and names of children in their custody. According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, 24 Palestinian children from Gaza languish in Megiddo prison, a facility notorious for its brutal conditions. Another 150 children are held captive in Ofer prison where scabies are spreading rapidly. The children are left to endure unbearable inches, painful boils, and skin infections without treatments, proper personal hygiene, cleaning products, or adequate clothing.  Israel is effectively wagging psychological and biological warfare against these vulnerable children along with physical abuses. 

For two decades, the international community has failed to protect Palestinian children. The latest devastating report by Save the Children, titled "Injustice: Palestinian Children’s Experience of the Israeli Military Detention System," cannot be ignored. 42% of these children suffer injuries, including gunshot wounds and broken bones, while a staggering 86% endure physical and emotional abuse. 70% face threats of harm, and 60% report being struck with sticks or guns. Some bear scars from sexual violence and are subjected to humiliating strip searches, while 60% experience the isolation of solitary confinement.

The systematic detention and torture of Palestinian children constitute violations of international law. These acts violate Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and constitute war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Israel’s actions are also in violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which state that no child shall be subjected to torture or degrading treatments.

We demand that international human rights organizations, UN agencies, and member states:

1. Investigate and Document: Collect testimonies from families and launch a thorough investigation into the whereabouts and conditions of the missing children.
2. Demand Transparency: Utilize diplomatic channels to compel Israel to disclose the exact numbers and names of children in their custody.
3. Establish a Public Database: Create and maintain a public database listing the numbers and names of missing children.
4. Inspect Detention Facilities: Conduct comprehensive inspections of Israeli detention centers to assess the conditions faced by these children.
5. Ensure Safe Return and Care: Track, locate, and safely return the children to their families, and providing necessary medical and psychological support

We also urge the UN to pass a resolution requiring Israel to implement the recommendations of Save the Children:

• Align Israel’s justice system with international law and juvenile justice standards.
• Ensure that no child is prosecuted in military courts
• Ensure no child is prosecuted in any court lacking fair trial rights.
• Guarantee that the government of Israel respects all children’s rights in accordance with international law.
• Facilitate regular, unhindered access for monitoring by experts such as the ICRC and UN Human Rights personnel.

 We are deeply concerned for the safety of these vulnerable children, whose lives hang in the balance. We call upon the international community to fulfil its obligations and ensure the immediate return of Palestinian children to their families. By signing this petition, you send a powerful message to the UN Security Council to uphold international laws and protect these children. Your support reflects a steadfast commitment to justice, human rights, and the urgent fight against forced disappearances.

 

Petition Sponsored By:

Bradford Friends Of Palestine