400 Palestinian children languish in Israeli prisons
Israeli police detain a Palestinian child in Jerusalem following clashes in the holy city in late October 2014. (REUTERS Photo)


At least 700 Palestinian children aged between 11 and 17 have been arrested by the Israeli army this year, with more than half still languishing in Israeli prisons. "The Israeli army has detained 700 Palestinian children and minors from the occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank since the beginning of 2015," the Palestinian Prisoner Society said Friday. At least 400 Palestinian children are still detained in Israeli jails, the NGO added.It also noted that a number of Palestinian minors were detained after being shot by the Israeli army. Israel has detained Palestinian children under difficult conditions, mainly in four prisons. They are the Hishorn, Ofer, Megiddo, and Jafon prisons.According to the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs, more than 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in detention facilities throughout Israel. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in October was 53, including 11 children and a woman.Over the same period, at least 1,900 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli gunfire, while thousands of others have suffered temporary asphyxia as a result of the excessive use of teargas by the Israeli security forces, the ministry said.