Occupied Palestinian Territories: Fact Sheet
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The fragile state of this region has made it almost impossible for international organizations to study the use of child soldiers by Israel and Palestine
- Population: 3.4 million
- Government armed forces: 200,000
- Child soldiers: 450 (estimate)
- Israel forces are reported to have coerced and turned Palestinian children into spies
- In Israel and occupied Palestinian territories, the Israel armed forces have detained Palestinian children in methods that are below internally recognized standards for the treatment of juvenile prisoners
- Even though Palestinian troops do no recruit child soldiers, they are still used as spies and couriers
- At least 9 Palestinian children have carried out suicide bombings since 2004
- The Palestinian children that are prisoners are routinely denied legal representation and translators
- Children at detention centers continuously undergo physical and verbal torture
- Israeli troops claim that most child they have killed were engaged in battle
- No DDR programs are in place for Palestinian children
Sources Consulted
- "Military use of children." Wikipedia. 26 January 2007. 28 January 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_soldier>.
- "Occupied Palestinian Territories." Child Soldiers Global Report 2004. 2004. 5 March 2007 <http://www.child-soldiers.org/document_get.php?id=959>.