Slippery Slope

IDF forces arrested more than 20 Palestinian minors in Hebron, at least 14 of whom are younger than 12, which is the legal age of criminal responsibility. (B’Tselem)

(Hebrew – B’Tselem)

An entire family, including 4 children and 5 women, was killed as a result of an IDF bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip.  In total 12 people were killed in the attack.  In Rafah a paramedic was killed while treating wounded.

(Hebrew – Physicians for Human Rights)

Gaza Emergency Services spokesperson, Adham Abu-Salmia, said that an 18 month old infant was killed in an IAF attack on the Al-Burayj refugee camp in the Central Gaza Strip.  Two of the infant’s brothers, aged 4 and 5, were critically injured in the attack.  It was earlier reported that a child was killed in an IAF attack on the Jbalia refugee camp.  Medical sources in the strip said that since the beginning of IDF operation “Pillar of Cloud” 50 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, of which 14 were children. (Maan)

(Hebrew – Walla!)

The Lod Valley Regional Council refuses to provide school transportation services to the children of the Abu-Labda clan [Arabs -Eds.], who go to school in Ramla. As a result, these children have to go to school alone, for over two hours and mostly by foot.

According to residents and observers in the city of Hebron, the treatment of Palestinians by IDF soldiers has deteriorated since the Golani brigade took control of the area in December. According to residents and observers, this deterioration includes prolonged and spiteful delays at military barriers that connect the part of the city where Jewish settlers live and the other parts of Hebron (H1), insistence on searching children’s school bags, bothering children returning from school, beating people, and detaining activists.

(Hebrew)

Petah Tikva parents have complained that a city-sponsored Hanukkah show at the municipal performing arts center is to be presented with separate seating for boys and girls.

A report by “Latet” organization shows that one fifth of all children in Israel experience days without food, and that 59% of all needy children skip entire meals. This is up 48% from the past two years.

(Hebrew)

The latest Poverty Report reveals that almost 80% of Jerusalem’s Arab residents are defined as poor, an increase of 12 percent over the past two years.  Approximately 84% of the children of East Jerusalem residents are below the poverty line.

(Hebrew)

UN special envoy on human rights in the Occupied Territories, Richard Falk, presented a report stating that Israel has killed 1,300 Palestinian children since 2000.