From inside a store... Palestinian boy: 5 Israeli soldiers arrested and beat me
An 11-year-old Palestinian boy recounts his arrest and beating by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank.
An 11-year-old Palestinian boy named Mahmoud Fawad Abu Aliya described his distressing experience of being arrested and beaten by Israeli soldiers while he was shopping in a store in the village of al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah. He recalled how the soldiers entered the supermarket and, despite being just a child, apprehended him and started to physically assault him immediately after. Mahmoud's detailed account included being punched and hit with a gun, indicating the severity of his ordeal under military detention.
During his transfer in the military vehicle, Mahmoud stated that the soldiers continued to inflict harm on him while also demanding silence, making it clear that the treatment he received was not only harsh but also dehumanizing. The ordeal lasted for approximately an hour before he was released at the eastern entrance of the village, where he faced further danger as a settler fired at him after his release. This incident emphasizes the ongoing fear and trauma experienced by Palestinian children in these contested areas.
Mahmoud's father, Fawad Abu Aliya, expressed his outrage and sadness that such violence is inflicted upon children, stressing that his son was merely trying to fulfill his basic needs like buying groceries. He highlighted the broader implications of the incident by pointing out that Palestinian children are living in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, which starkly contrasts with the innocent experiences that childhood should embody. Mahmoud's plea for a peaceful childhood serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing conflict's toll on the youngest and most vulnerable individuals in the region.