The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested on Sunday early morning the family of Tarek Darwish which consists of 6 individuals including a child of three years old.

According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, Darwish Darwish explained that the IOF raided his son-in-law’s house (Tarek Darwish) and searched it and damaged some of its contents.

During the raid, the Israeli soldiers assaulted and severely beat 44-year old Tarek Darwish. When his sons attempted to interfere and save their father, the IOF assaulted them and their mother as well.

Darwish Darwish added that the IOF arrested Tarek, his wife, his 3-year old son Darwish, 14-year old Batool, 7-year old Laith and 18-year old Yousef.

He explained that the Israeli soldiers detained the family members from 2:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. except for the baby who was released at 6:00 a.m.; the IOF extended the arrest of Laith until next Monday.

Silwan lies on the outskirts of Jerusalem’s Old City. Israeli authorities have issued many of the Palestinian families with home demolition orders to clear the area for further development of the archaeological site known as the City of David.

Israel’s Jerusalem municipality approved Town Plan Scheme 11555 for an archaeological park in the heart of Silwan, along with “roads, parking lots, paths, a promenade, open areas, a special public area, public buildings and institutions, engineering installations and housing.”

Palestinians say the plan aims to squeeze them out of Jerusalem and Judaize the city. When completed, it will occupy 70 percent of their land and displace over 1,000 Palestinian residents.

According to the Defense for Children International – Palestine, the consequences of child arrests in Silwan, and other Palestinian neighborhoods of Jerusalem, extend beyond the detention period.

The traumatic experience of arrest and interrogation alongside the constant fear of arrest, disruption of education and the financial burden of posting bail and paying fines have taken their toll on the children, their families and the Silwan community as a whole.

According to Daoud Mahmmod from the Al-Bustan Popular Committee, Israel arrests Palestinian children “to obtain information about third persons, to threaten them and to make it clear that they are under permanent surveillance by showing them pictures and video material.”

Source: PNN