Interrogations sessions were conducted without the presence of a family member or lawyer, the report ? Children in Israeli Military Detention ? said, adding: "Treatment inconsistent with child rights continues during court appearances." This includes shackling, denial of bail, custodial sentences and the transfer to detention facilities in Israel, making it difficult or impossible for family members to visit them.
Most of those arrested are accused of throwing stones at soldiers, often near Jewish settlements. Over the past decade, Israeli forces have detained, prosecuted and convicted nearly 7,000 Palestinian children between the age of 12 and 17, nearly all of them boys. Some 233 children ? 31 under the age of 16 ? are currently in custody after being arrested from the end of January.
"It's not to say that all children who are under arrest in the Middle East are treated with dignity. But the unique aspect is that the arrests and interrogation are done by military personnel who are not qualified to deal with child offenders. Children are civilians ? they should always be tried in civilian courts."
In a series of recommendations, the report urges that children should only be arrested in the daytime and that detention only be used as a last resort.
The Israeli foreign ministry said it would study the report ? noting that Israel had participated in its compilation. "Israel will study the conclusions and will work to implement them through ongoing cooperation with UNICEF, whose work we value and respect," it said in a statement.
A spokesman for the Israeli Defence Forces advocate general's office said Palestinian militant groups had used children to carry out "terrorist" activities.
"We have seen an extensive use and abuse of children by terrorist organisations both on the premise that children have freer access to general areas and that they represent a lesser threat than adults," he said. Relatives had the right to accompany child detainees to their place of detention, he added, but rarely exercised it.
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