Israeli Occupation Continues to Violate the Rights of Palestinian Women     

March 2018

 

Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the rights of Palestinian women. In fact, there are 62 Palestinian females held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, including 6 female children, 9 injured prisoners and 3 administrative detainees held without charge or trial. In total, 35 are held in HaSharon Prison and 25 are held in Damon Prison. Both of these prisons are located inside Israel in contravention of the Forth Geneva Convention which prohibits the transfer of the population from the occupied territory to the territory of the occupier.

Since the beginning of the occupation 50 years ago in 1967, over 10,000 Palestinian women have been arrested and detained by Israeli occupation forces. In 2018, Palestinian women and girls are routinely arrested from the streets, Israeli military checkpoints, and during violent night raids on their homes. Those military incursions are accompanied with the presence of Israeli soldiers, intelligence officers, and police dogs, during which destruction of household items and property damage takes place. They are blindfolded and handcuffed, and they are forcibly taken to a military jeep.

R. L., a 17-year-old girl from the city of Jerusalem, was arrested on 5 February 2016 from the street. During the arrest, the Israeli soldiers harshly beat her and transferred to al-Mascobiyya for interrogation. Throughout the transfer, she was handcuffed and eyes folded, she was also humiliated, insulted and beaten by the soldiers. R. L. did not know where she was going neither her parents did. As for interrogations, she was interrogated for three days and by three Israeli officers without her lawyer, also her hands and legs were cuffed. She was tortured during interrogations; put in stress positions, beaten and deprived of sleep and food. R. L. was accused of possessing a knife, however, she was released on bail after four days of the detention. Her release was conditional, so her family had to pay 2500 Shekels (around 750 USD), and she was forcibly transferred to another village in Jerusalem but is far away from her parent’s house. Then, she was placed under house arrest until she was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment. In fact, since 5 February 2018 R. L. has been detained in Hasharon prison along with another 5 female minors. After an appeal her sentence got reduced to 8 months instead of 14, so R. L. is expected to get released in October 2018.

Interrogation and Mistreatment

Upon being taken to interrogation and detention centers, female Palestinian detainees are routinely denied an explanation of their rights and the reason for their arrests. Often, they are denied attorney access and held for several days under interrogation where they are subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The methods of torture and ill-treatment used against female Palestinian prisoners cause severe physical and mental suffering. Interrogation methods include prolonged isolation from the outside world, inhumane detention conditions, excessive use of blindfolds and handcuffs, sleep deprivation, denial of food and water for extended periods, denial of access to toilets, denial of access to showers or change of clothes for days or weeks, being forced into stress positions, yelling,  insults and cursing, and sexual harassment.

32-year-old L. Sh. is an administrative detainee, she was arrested in October 2017. L. Sh, is a mother of 6 the youngest is currently three years old. She was taken from her own house after a raid from the Israeli occupation soldiers who strip-searched her before arresting her. Since she is under administrative detention that means she does not know her charges neither does her lawyer. Still, L. Sh. was interrogated for days. She reported:

“During interrogations, I was surprised when the officer was asking me about an operation I’m planning to commit. The officers kept telling me that they know about a dream I had which was about me committing an operation against them. One time they even told me they know about the dream and about the fact that I told my neighbors about it. I didn’t know what to say so I asked them to let me sleep maybe I’ll have another dream which might have the answers they want.”[1] 

Struggle for Education

Palestinian girls and women in Israeli detention centers are deprived of their right to education. In fact, female minors are not provided with any school classes in detention, which is in direct violation of international laws and standards. Thus, being a young Palestinian female detained in Israeli prisons it means you will end up being late in school, if not eventually dropping out. Currently, there are 6 female minors detained, most of them are supposed to do their official high school exams at the end of the educational year. However, those young girls are not provided with any educational services by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) to prepare them for those exams. Nevertheless, since those young girls are detained in the same detention centers as adult women, PLC member Khalida Jarrar has been preparing those girls for the exams.

Khalida Jarrar is currently under administrative detention, she also announced her total boycott of Israeli military courts. A boycott Campaign of military courts was announced by administrative detainees last month, the campaign started officially on 1 March 2018, currently, there are 450 administrative detainees. Khalida stated,

“Greetings to all Palestinian women and women from the entire world. On this International Women’s Day, I assure the importance of unity among women in their national and social struggles against colonization, discrimination and social exploitation. 8th of March is an opportunity for unity among us to fight for justice.”

[2]

 

87 Children Deprived of this Mother's Day

As Palestinians celebrate the occasion of Mothers’ Day, 21 Palestinian mothers held in Israeli prisons and detention centers are unable to see their families. Those 21 women are mothers of 87 sons and daughters who are all spending this mother’s day without mothers. Palestinian mothers are often denied their right to a fair trial, family visits, and kept for several days or months under interrogation where they are subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The methods of torture and ill-treatment used against Palestinian mothers inside Israeli prisons cause severe physical and mental suffering. Interrogation methods include prolonged isolation from the outside world, inhumane detention conditions, excessive use of blindfolds and handcuffs, sleep deprivation, denial of food and water for extended periods of time, denial of proper medical treatment, denial of access to toilets, denial of access to showers or change of clothes for days or weeks, being forced into stress positions, yelling, insults and cursing, and sexual harassment. 

Mothers in Detention

Palestinian women are held in HaShron and Damon prisons inside Israel, and currently, there is one mother held in al-Ramleh prison. This means that they are all illegally transferred from the occupied West Bank and Gaza into Israel. The illegal transfer of prisoners amounts to a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which states that “persons accused of offenses shall be detained in the occupied country.”[3] It also amounts to the deportation of protected persons which, under article 49 of the same convention, is a war crime.[4] There are further implications resulting from this crime, such as the difficulties children face in order to visit their mothers. Children, just like all Palestinians who wish to visit their detained relatives, face a long and arduous process. It includes applying for a permit, long hours of traveling, being searched and finally having to see one's mother from behind a glass. Actually, those 21 imprisoned women are mothers of 87 sons and daughters and most of them are children.

Furthermore, mothers under international humanitarian law are provided with special protection. This protection is ensured by several articles in the Fourth Geneva convention, for example, article 89 mentions special and extra services need to be provided to mothers and pregnant women in occupied territories.[5] Other articles place a special attention to the age of children. As such, article 50 of the same convention states that this special attention should be given to mothers of children under the age of 7.[6] Furthermore, in cases of detained mothers, article 76 (2) from Additional Protocol 1 of the Geneva Conventions states that those mothers should have their cases considered with the highest priority.

 

 

Mothers with Detained Sons and Daughters

Currently, there are 6119 Palestinian Prisoners in detention, this number includes around 350 children imprisoned. Most of those prisoners are illegally deported from the occupied territory into the territory of the occupied. This number also means that there are around 6000 Palestinian mothers deprived of their children. Those mothers suffer to visit their detained sons and daughters and many of them are panned from visiting under the ‘security threat’ argument. Even when mothers receive permits that allow them to visit they face a long and difficult process. Not so long ago in December 2017, a bus from Gaza with Palestinian families heading to visit their imprisoned relatives was stopped by a group led by an Israeli Knesset member. Those families were harassed and humiliated especially mothers who were verbally threatened with their detained sons and daughter.

Palestinian Females in the Context of International Law

 

Israel is accountable for its actions in the occupied territories, including West Bank military checkpoints, particularly the ill-treatment of women during arrests and transfers. Article 12 of General Recommendation 28 by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Core Obligations of States Parties states that:

“Although subject to international law, States primarily exercise territorial jurisdiction. The obligations of States parties apply, however, without discrimination both to citizens and non-citizens, including refugees, asylum-seekers, migrant workers and stateless persons, within their territory or effective control, even if not situated within the territory. States parties are responsible for all their actions affecting human rights, regardless of whether the affected persons are in their territory.”[7]

In its General Recommendation No. 30 on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations, the Committee confirm the aforementioned paragraph, stating, “… the obligations of States parties also apply extraterritorially to persons within their effective control, even if not situated within their territory, and that States parties are responsible for all their actions affecting human rights, regardless of whether the affected persons are in their territory”.[8]

Testimonies by Palestinian women and girls highlight the brutality of the arrest process as well as conditions inside Israeli interrogation, detention and prison centers, and even hospitals while in custody. The abuse, ill-treatment, and torture of Palestinian women and girls take place within the context of the ongoing occupation of 50 years and annexation of Palestinian lands. In the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women, States Parties emphasize “that the eradication of apartheid, all forms of racism, racial discrimination, colonialism, neo-colonialism, aggression, foreign occupation and domination and interference in the internal affairs of States is essential to the full enjoyment of the rights of men and women”.[9]

Addameer Calls the International Community for:

·         The United Nations and all States Parties call upon Israel to respect, uphold and strive to surpass the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325, in regulating the treatment of women and girls during interrogation and detention, and their lives of women and girls in prison. 

·         States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention call for an end to physical and psychological abuse in the hands of soldiers during the arrests of Palestinian women and girls and their illegal detention in occupying territory, accountability.

·         States Parties call for an end to the practices of physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian women under interrogation. 

·         States Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women call upon Israel to develop a gender-sensitive policy for the treatment of Palestinian female prisoners.

الأسيرة الطفلة عهد التميمي

 

 

 

#

Name

Address

Date of Birth

Date of Arrest

Sentence 

Prison

1

Yasmin Sha'ban

Jenin 

1/24/1983

11/3/14

 5

HaSharon 

  2

Amal Taqatqa

Bethlehem 

5/20/1994

01/12/2014

7 

HaSharon 

3

Mayson Jabali

Bethlehem

19/10/1995

29/06/2015

15

HaSharon 

4

Rawan abu Ziyada

Ramallah

5/12/1992

15/7/2015 

HaSharon 

5

Shuruq Dewyat

Jerusalem

13/8/1997

11/10/2015 

16

HaSharon 

6

Marah Bakeer

Jerusalem 

26/1/1999

12/10/2015

8.5

HaSharon 

7

Israa' Ja'abees 

Jerusalem

22/7/1984

10/10/2015 

11 

HaSharon 

8

Nisreen Hassan 

Gaza

42 

18/10/2015

Waiting Trail

Damon 

9

Hilwa Hamamra 

Bethlehem 

 

8/11/2015

Damon

10

Nourhan Awad 

Qalandia Camp 

19/1/1999

23/11/2015 

13،5 

HaSharon   

11

Lama al-Bakri 

Hebron 

25/8/2000

13/12/2015 

39 Months

HaSharon 

12

Abla al-A'dam

Hebron

45 

20/12/2015 

HaSharon 

13

Manal Sheweki

Jerusalem

12/9/2000

21/12/2015

HaSharon 

14

Ataya Abu A'ysha 

Jerusalem

4/12/1987

15/12/2015 

Damon

15

Malak Sliman

Jerusalem

11/1/00

9/2/2016 

10 

HaSharon 

16

Hadya A'rinat

Jericho

21/5/2001

3/3/2016

HaSharon 

17

Ansam Shawahna

Qalqilya

31/10/1997

3/9/2016 

Damon

18

Shatyla Abu Ahed

Kufur Qassem 

23

3/4/2016 

 16 

HaSharon 

19

Jamila Jaber 

Salfit

12/3/1999

5/7/2016

2.5 

Damon

20

Ghader al-A'trash 

Hebron

12/9/1991

9/8/2015

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

21

Ayat Mahfouth

Hebron

 

09/05/2016

HaSharon 

22

Ayah Shawamra 

Jerusalem

 22

15/9/2016 

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

23

Sabreen Zbydat 

Sekhneen

23/11/1986

22/9/2016

50 Months

HaSharon 

24

Amani al-Hasheem

Jerusalem

31 

13/12/2016 

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

25

Jihan Hashma 

Jerusalem 

 عام35

 

Waiting Trail

Damon

26

Samiha Abu Rmilah 

Jerusalem

 

01/01/2017

Waiting Trail

Damon

27

Israa' Jaber 

Hebron

31/12/1999

11/2/2017

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

28

Batoul al-Ramahi

Ramallah 

6/11/1993

03/12/2017

Waiting Trail 

Damon

29

Istabraq al-Tamimi

al-Ram 

25/11/1995

20/3/2017

2

Damon

30

Asya Ka'abna 

Nablus 

10/3/1987

24/4/2017 

Waiting Trail

Damon

31

Bayan Far'on 

al-Azarya

14/5/1994

03/12/2017

Waiting Trail

Damon

32

Ibtisam Mousa

Gaza

59 عام

 

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

33

Khalida Jarrar 

Al-Bireh 

9/2/1963

07/02/2017

Administrative Detainee  

HaSharon 

34

Tahreer Abu Sarya 

Nablus

27/4/1993

24/7/2017 

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

35

Manal Da'na

Jerusalem 

 

07/02/2017

15 Months

Damon

36

Jiyana Hayawi

Beir Nabalah 

13/6/1997

28/4/2017 

Waiting Trail

Damon

37

Rawan A'nbar 

Jifna/Ramallah 

30/4/1995

23/7/2017

Waiting Trail

Damon

38

Nour Zriqat 

Hebron

20/5/2000

30/5/2017 

20 Months

HaSharon 

39

Fadwa Hamadeh

Jerusalem 

10/11/1987

13/8/2017 

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

40

Amal Sa'ed 

Bethlehem 

 

10/01/2017

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

41

Khadija Rab'i 

Hebron 

30 

10/10/2017

Administrative Detainee 

Damon

42

Bushra al-Taweel 

Al-Bireh

 

11/01/2017

Administrative Detainee 

HaSharon 

43

Ihsan Abu Samra

Hebron

 

28/6/2017 

Waiting Trail

Damon

44

Aysha al-Afghani 

Jerusalem

 

24/12/2016

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

45

Amira Taqatqa 

Bethlehem 

 

 

Waiting Trail

Damon 

46

Israa' alA'ina 

Hebron 

 

 

 

 

47

Amina Mahmoud 

Jerusalem

 

12/04/2017

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

48

Hanan al-Akhdar 

Hebron

 

01/12/2017

months 9 

HaSharon 

49

Ahed Tamimi 

Nabi Saleh 

1/8/2002

19/12/2017

Waiting Trail

HaSharon 

50

Nariman Tamimi 

Nabi Saleh

40 

19/12/2017

Waiting Trail 

HaSharon 

51

Yasmin Abu Srour

Bethlehem/ Ayda Camp 

20 

17/1/2018

Waiting Trail

 

52

Areej Houshyeh

Jerusalem

 

 

Waiting Trail 

 

53

Tasneem al-Assad 

48 land

 

 

Waiting Trail 

 

54

Rahmeh al-Assad 

land 48 

 

 

Waiting Trail 

 

55

Niveen Abu Sil 

Hebron

 

 

Waiting Trail

 

56

Bayan Khamaysa 

Hebron

 

 

Waiting Trail 

 

57

Ramah Ja'abees 

Jerusalem

23/12/2001

02/05/2018

8 months

HaSharon 

58

Hiba Jaja 

Hebron

 

 

 

 

59

Haneen A'bar 

 

 

 

 

 

60

A'beer Abu Khdair 

Jerusalem

 48 

4/3/2018 

2 months

al-Ramleh

61

Sarah Abu Hameed

Bethlehem 

 

 

4 months

Damon

62

Fatma Jarrar

Jenin

20 

6/3/2018 

 

 

 

 

Name of Palestinian mothers currently held in Israeli prisons and detention center:

1-      Yasmeen Sha’ban, sentenced to five years and a mother of four children.

2-      Israa’ Ja’abees, sentenced to 11 years and a mother of one child.

3-      Helweh Hamamreh, sentenced to six years and a mother of one child.

4-      Nisreen Hassan, waiting for a trial and a mother of seven children.

5-      Ablah al-Adam, sentenced to three years and a mother of nine children.

6-      Sabreen Zbeydat, sentenced to 50 months and a mother of three children.

7-      Amani Hasheem, waiting for a trail and a mother of two children.

8-      Ghadeer al-Atrash, waiting for a trail and a mother of three children.

9-      Jihan Hashmeh, waiting for trail and a mother of three children.

10-   Sameha abu Remyleh, waiting for a trail and a mother of four children.

11-   Ibtesam Eid, waiting for a trail and a mother of seven children.

12-   Khalida Jarrar, administrative detainee and a mother of two children.

13-   Nariman Tamimi, waiting for a trail and a mother of two children.

14-   Hanan al-Akhdar, sentenced to nine months and a mother of five children.

15-   Fadwa Hamadeh, waiting for a trail and a mother of five children.

16-   Khadija al-Rabe’I, administrative detainee and a mother of six children.

17-   Amal Sa’ed, waiting for a trail and a mother of six children.

18-   Abeer abu Khdair, sentenced to two months and a mother of five children.

19-   Hiba Jajeh, waiting for a trail and a mother of two children.

20-   Asiya Ka’abneh, waiting for a trail and a mother of eight children.

21-   Niveen Shalaldeh, waiting for a trail and a mother of two children.

 


[1] Affidavit to Addameer Attorney at Damon Prison on 5 February 2018 with 32-year-old L. Sh. 

[2] Affidavit to Addameer Attorney at HaSharon Prison on 6 March 2018 with PLC member Khalida Jarar.

[6] Article 50,  Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949.

[7] UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), General Recommendation No. 28 on the Core Obligations of States Parties under Article 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 16 December 2010, CEDAW/C/GC/28.

[8] UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), General recommendation No. 30 on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations, 1 November 2013, CEDAW/C/GC/30, paragraph 8.

[9] UN General Assembly, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 18 December 1979, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, p. 13.