Become a citizen co-sponsor of H.R. 4391

In November 2017, Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) and nine co-sponsors introduced the first-ever bill in the U.S. Congress focused on Palestinian human rights, specifically grave human rights violations against Palestinian child detainees.

The "Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act," or H.R. 4391, seeks to promote justice, equality, and human rights by ensuring that United States financial assistance provided to the Government of Israel is not used to support the detention of Palestinian children by Israeli forces in a military detention system where ill-treatment is widespread and institutionalized.

Please join us in signing on as a citizen co-sponsor of this groundbreaking legislation.

Palestinian child detainees in military detention

Israel has the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes children in military courts that lack fundamental fair trial rights and protections.

Israel military authorities prosecute an estimated 500 to 700 Palestinian children in military courts each year.

Nearly three out of four Palestinian children experience some form of physical violence after arrest.

Children typically arrive to interrogation bound, blindfolded, frightened, and sleep deprived.

Children often give confessions after verbal abuse, threats, and physical and psychological violence that in some cases amounts to torture.

Israeli military law provides no right to legal counsel during interrogation.

Regardless of guilt or innocence, children in conflict with the law are entitled to special protections and all due process rights under international law, including an absolute prohibition on torture and other forms of ill-treatment.

» Click here to read more about the bill