Autistic Palestinian boy suffers sexual abuse in 'Israeli' detention

'Israeli' authorities are holding an autistic and disabled Palestinian boy in detention, where he is allegedly facing violence from guards and inmates, according to 'Israeli' newspaper Haaretz.

The newspaper said the 14-year-old was detained two weeks ago by the Shin Bet security service and police on suspicion of security offenses, without providing further details.

The boy, who is on the autism spectrum and fully disabled, is a resident of central 'Israel'. He was arrested by 'Israeli' forces during a family visit to the occupied West Bank. Authorities have issued a gag order barring publication of his name or the reason for his arrest.

His mother and lawyer said after visiting him that he is being held in violent and degrading conditions.

According to his mother, dozens of 'Israeli' soldiers raided their home before sunrise to arrest him.

"They entered the children's room and aimed rifles and flashlights at them. My kid shook; he wasn't able to stand on his feet out of fear," she said. "They didn't look for anything, just made a mess and took the telephones and computers of the entire family."

Haaretz reported that the boy has appeared four times before the Juvenile Court in Bat Yam in Tel Aviv, where judges extended his detention each time. At the most recent hearing on Oct. 22, Judge Tal Levitas Ben Peretz extended his remand by one week. An appeal by his lawyer, Jgal Dotan, was rejected.

Mistreatment

Saja Misherqi Baransi, a lawyer with the Public Committee Against Torture in 'Israel', said she visited the boy on Monday.

"He was handcuffed, with guards holding his hands above his head and treating him like a security prisoner, despite his small stature," she said.

Baransi said he reported being beaten by guards and other prisoners and is being bullied. She described his physical and mental state as poor and said he complains of head and throat pain and of being cold.

"He doesn't have a mattress, just a blanket, and he sleeps on the concrete. The food is scarce, and he has no privacy," she said.

Attorney Dotan said the boy has communication and orientation challenges.

"He complained to me about severe violence by guards in the detention facility of the Israel Prison Service and about the inhumane conditions," Dotan said.

"This violence is consistent with what I have heard from other security detainees since October 7, 2023, and it appears linked to the fact he is a helpless juvenile."

Dotan said the boy’s situation has worsened since the latest extension of his detention and that he now reports abuse by other detainees, along with constant hunger and cold.

"It's regrettable that the investigating unit and the prosecution have washed their hands of responsibility for the welfare and safety of the minor," he said.

The 'Israel' Prison Service said the boy is being held under a court order and that his rights are fully protected.

According to Palestinian and 'Israeli' human rights organizations, 'Israel' currently holds more than 10,000 Palestinian detainees, including children and women. Many detainees report torture, hunger, and medical neglect, which rights groups say has contributed to several deaths in custody.