14-Year-Old Jerusalem Child Turns Himself In Under Ne
Occupied Jerusalem (Quds News Network)- Ayham Salaimeh, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy from the eastern part of occupied Jerusalem, surrendered to Israeli authorities on Sunday to begin a 12-month prison sentence. He was convicted of throwing stones.
Ayham’s father, Nawwaf Salaimeh, shared videos showing the emotional moment his son handed himself over at the Moskobiya detention center in occupied Jerusalem. The prison administration refused to accept Ayham’s personal belongings, including clothes, shoes, a coat, and a hat, according to the family.
"اللفة الأخيرة"
الطفل أيهم السلايمة 14 عاماً يودع مدينة القدس بجولة أخيرة رفقة والده قبل دخوله سجون الاحتلال ليقضي حكما بالسجن 12 شهراً.
نظرات الطفل أيهم موجعة، لا يستوعب أنه سيدخل السجن مع علمه بما يتعرض له الأسرى من تنكيل وضرب‼️
مرفق فيديو سابق له قبل أيام https://t.co/TD2wKuGPzi pic.twitter.com/L9UxzuIPjx
— Hanaa. M (@HanaaM24) December 1, 2024
Before this sentence, Ayham endured 18 months of house arrest at his family’s home in Ras Al-Amud. Despite this punishment, Israeli authorities ruled for an additional year of actual imprisonment.
Ayham was initially detained alongside his brother Ahmad and cousins Mohammed and Moataz during a nighttime raid on May 15, 2023. They were accused of throwing stones at settlers and were released on the condition of house arrest while awaiting trial.
Nawwaf explained that Israeli law permits the imprisonment of children as young as 14, unlike international standards which set the minimum age at 16. Ayham, who was under 14 at the time of his arrest, was placed under house arrest initially. The prosecution later sought a three-year prison term for him, but his lawyer challenged the demand. After 20 court sessions, an Israeli judge sentenced Ayham to one year in prison.
This comes in the wake of recent legislative changes in the occupation state. On November 7, the Knesset passed a law allowing the detention of children under 14 in closed facilities if convicted of murder involving “terrorism or terrorist activities.”
Upon reaching 14, the child would continue to serve their sentence in prison, according to the statement.
