RAMALLAH
Israeli forces arrested 31 Palestinian children in the second half of February, mostly in the West Bank, a new Palestinian government report has revealed.
Most of the arrests took place in the cities of Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem), Al-Khalil (Hebron), Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus, according to the report, which was released on Monday by the Ramallah-based Information Ministry's department for child affairs.
Several children were also injured in "assaults" by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers, the report noted, without providing the number of such cases.
Those arrested were between 13 and 18 years of age, many of whom were beaten upon their arrest, the report found.
Some of the arrested children were taken from their homes, while others were nabbed at Israeli checkpoints.
According to recent figures by the Prisoners' Affairs Ministry, as many as 187 Palestinian children remain jailed in Israeli prisons on various charges.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
