RAMALLAH, December 21, 2011 (WAFA) – A total of 106 Palestinian children remain in Israeli prisons following the release of 55 prisoners aged between 14 and 17 in the second stage of the Gilad Shalit swap deal on Sunday, said a statement published Monday by Defence for Children International (DCI).

DCI welcomed the release of the 55 children, but expressed concerns regarding the treatment of Palestinian minors in the Israeli military detention system, which included the continuous arrest of children at night and the use of painful hand ties and blindfolds for extended periods of time.

The statement also addressed concerns over the Israeli Prisoner Service’s failure to immediately inform parents why their children are being arrested or where they are being taken, failure to inform children of their right to silence prior to interrogation, failure to permit children to meet with a lawyer prior to interrogation and failure to permit a parent to be present during interrogation.

DCI also indicated continued reports of ill-treatment and/or torture during arrest, transfer and interrogation of Palestinian minors, along with the detention of children in prisons located inside Israel in violation of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

DCI continued to recommend, in its statement, that no child should be prosecuted in military courts that lack comprehensive fair trial and juvenile justice standards, that all children should be accompanied by a lawyer and a parent during questioning, and that all interrogations of children must be audio-visually recorded as a means of independent oversight, as a minimum safeguard.

R.Q./F.J.