December 21 2023 - Suhaib, a Palestinian boy from Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank, was detained by Israeli forces for six months without charge or trial.
"I was administratively detained for 6 months without charges.
I was next to the wall. Suddenly, the soldiers noticed me. They fired at me to force me to stop. They rushed towards me and tied me up and started hitting me with their hands and feet. They blindfolded me and tied my hands and feet. They put me under the sun for 4-5 hours.
Then I was moved in a jeep between several settlements. The jeep continued moving until one o’clock in the morning. Then I was transferred to prison.
During the first 17 days, I was interrogated and brought before courts. The lawyer was telling me that I would be released soon. I have not been convicted of any charges. That’s why I was placed in administrative detention. There was no evidence against me to charge me with.
Administrative detention is a form of imprisonment without charge or trial but based on “secret evidence” that is neither disclosed to the detainee nor the detainee’s attorney.
When my administrative detention expired, I was happy because I would see my family and loved ones. I was surprised when they brought me a paper stating the administrative detention had been renewed for another 3 months. I returned to my prison bed. It was a difficult moment. I was shocked then. I started spending less time with fellow prisoners. I became less talkative. It is difficult to end your detention, and to receive renewal on the day you are supposed to be released.
When I finished my second detention order, I shaved, dressed, and prepared for my release. At the same time, I was ready to receive news of another extension. I prepared myself not to be shocked.
After I was released, my life was ruined. I had a good job and I lost it. Before prison, I intended to complete my education, but my mentality changed and I no longer wanted to. I didn’t want to socialize with people. My life was ruined."
1 in 3 Palestinian child detainees in the occupied West Bank are held without charge or trial. By the end of June 2024, Israeli forces were detaining 226 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank. 75 are held without charge or trial in administrative detention, which is a record number since DCIP began monitoring child administrative detainees in 2008.