Tuesday, 8 July 2014

ADC Demands Justice for Israel's abuse of Palestinian children

Washington, DC | www.adc.org | July 7, 2014 - The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) demands justice for the senseless assault and unwarranted arrest of 15-year-old Palestinian-American Tariq Khdeir and the brutal murder of his cousin Mohammad Abukhdeir in Palestine. ADC condemns all violence against children and calls for a swift investigation into these cases and the increasing Israeli aggression against Palestinian children.

Last Thursday, undercover Israeli police agents beat Tariq beyond recognition, only two days after his cousin Mohammad was forced to drink gasoline and was burned alive by Israeli settlers. The Israeli police then detained Tariq without charge, denied him proper medical attention, and are currently keeping him under house arrest — still without charge — according to a statement by Addameer, a Palestinian human rights organization.

Tariq is a United States citizen who was visiting Palestine for Independence Day weekend. He is one of 11 Palestinians who were beaten and arrested in the Shofat neighborhood of Occupied East Jerusalem following the lynching of Mohammad.

We are disappointed by the U.S. Department of State’s delay in issuing a statement on this matter. On Sunday, the State Department called for “a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force.” We urge that this statement is followed through immediately; ADC will continue to follow up on its developments.

Israel’s state sanctioned violence against children violates international law. As a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Israel has a legal obligation to take all appropriate measures to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse. In a 2010 report by the United Nation’s International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), UNICEF criticized Israel for failing to create a government-appointed commission on children's rights and disregarding the convention's application on Palestinian children in the Palestinian Territories.

ADC calls on the U.S. State Department to condemn Israel’s aggression against Palestinian children, call for justice on behalf of Tariq and Mohammad’s families, and demand that not another child in the conflict experience the same abuse. ADC National President Samer Khalaf is requesting a meeting with Senator John F. Kerry to discuss this matter immediately.