ADC Demands Justice for Israel's abuse of Palestinian children

Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, July 20, 2016

 

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.

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Tell Congress and the White House to Demand an End to Israel’s Attack on Gaza

Take Action: Click here to send a letter to Congress and President Obama!

Israel has launched an assault on Gaza which has resulted in the deaths of 35 Palestinian civilians and the injury of at least 100 more. The numbers continue to escalate. In addition to the nearly 400 missiles fired since the outset of Israel’s operation on Monday, there is now talk of a ground assault. This is following the murder of Mohammad Abukhdeir, a Palestinian teen who was burned alive by an Israeli mob after the bodies of the three kidnapped Israelis were found.

While the Obama Administration and Congress have condemned the continuing rocket fire into Israel from Hamas and the “deliberate targeting of civilians,” it has said Israel has a right to defend itself, justifying the bombing campaign in Gaza and laying the blame on Hamas, while underplaying Israel’s role in creating and escalating this crisis – including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “revenge” directive.

Israel’s excessive use of force in Gaza is collective punishment that harms innocent Palestinian civilians and children. The Israeli government must be held responsible for these unjust attacks, which violate international law.

Tell the White House and your congressional representatives to condemn Israel’s indiscriminate collective punishment, support an immediate ceasefire, and a resolution of all outstanding issues driving the conflict.

Click here to send a letter to Congress and the President now!

Talking Points:

·        The U.S. should demand an immediate ceasefire from both Hamas and Israel

·        Israel should not be given a free pass for its role in creating and escalating this crisis, and its bombing of civilian areas should be condemned by the U.S. just as strongly as it condemned Hamas’s firing of rockets

·        Israel’s indiscriminate and unjust collective punishment measures, which violate international law, should be strongly condemned

·        The underlying causes driving the conflict must be resolved: The Gaza blockade and limitations on freedom of travel of Gazans should be lifted, and Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories should be ended

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