Israel using crowd control weapons against children

An international children's rights group says Israeli forces have used crowd control weapons against Palestinian children since a wave of unrest erupted last October.

In a report published Saturday, Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) said it had documented at least eight cases where children had received serious injuries in their upper bodies due to Israeli forces' "misuse" of the weapons.

The group cited the case of 16-year-old Mamdouh Mahyoub Sorour, who was shot with with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back of his head during a protest in the West Bank village of Nilin on Feb. 12, resulting in a brain hemorrhage.

"After a two-hour surgery and nearly a week in intensive care, Mamduh is in a stable condition," the report said. "His father told Defense for Children International-Palestine that since returning home, Mamduh is fatigued, stressed, and prefers to be alone."

Another two of the eight children had lost sight in one of their eyes as a result of their injuries, DCIP said.

"The improper use of crowd control weapons against children must end immediately," said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, DCIP's accountability program director.

"Israeli soldiers who aim crowd control weapons at children's heads and upper bodies at close range must be held accountable for their actions."

According to the report, Israeli military regulations say that Israeli forces may only fire rubber-coated steel bullets at the legs, and never at women or children. Israeli soldiers are also required to be 50 to 60 meters from their targets.

DCIP documented one case where Israeli forces allegedly shot a 13-year-old Palestinian with a rubber-coated steel bullet at a distance "of approximately two meters," during a raid on the village of Hizma, north of the occupied al-Quds ('Jerusalem').

The report said: "Across the West Bank, Israeli forces employ rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters, water cannons, sound grenades, and other 'non-fatal riot dispersal methods' to quash protests.

"While Israeli military regulations restrict the parameters and manner of their use, the excessive and improper use of crowd control weapons can lead to permanent disability or even death, particularly in children."