On May 1, 2019, Congresswoman Betty McCollum reintroduced legislation that would prohibit U.S. tax dollars from being used to fund and support the military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children living under Israeli military occupation. Specifically, the proposed legislation, Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, H.R. 2407, amends a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act known as the “Leahy Law” that bars U.S. funding for the military detention of children in any country, to now include Israel.
In a press statement Congresswoman McCollum emphasized the immediate need to pass H.R. 2407 as a step towards ending Israel’s systematic abuse of Palestinian children:
“Israel’s system of military juvenile detention is state-sponsored child abuse designed to intimidate and terrorize Palestinian children and their families. It must be condemned, but it is equally outrageous that U.S. tax dollars in the form of military aid to Israel are permitted to sustain what is clearly a gross human rights violation against children.”
Since 2000, it is estimated that Israel has detained and arrested at least 10,000 Palestinian children. International human rights organizations such as, Human Rights Watch and Defense for Children International-Palestine both
You can make a difference and protect the rights of Palestinian children today! Act now, tell your Representatives to stand up for the rights of Palestinian children and support H.R. 2407! Click HERE to tell your representatives to support H.R. 2407!
