The Palestinian Vision Organization (PalVision) has launched a groundbreaking analytical study titled “The Reality of the Child Protection Sector in Jerusalem Governorate: Root Causes of Violence, Torture, Ill-treatment, and Future Aspirations.”
This is the first specialized and comprehensive study to document the scale of violations endured by children in Jerusalem within the context of the October 7th aggression and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The study presents an in-depth analysis of the root and systematic causes behind the violence, torture, and ill-treatment of Palestinian children in Jerusalem. It also aims to offer a clearer understanding of the complex environment in the city and the challenges faced by child protection institutions operating in the field.
The most prominent forms of violations affecting children in Jerusalem include: willful killings and physical harm, arbitrary arrests, house arrest policies, psychological and physical torture, deprivation of education, and more.
The study attributes the primary causes of violence and ill-treatment to Israel’s settler-colonial occupation and apartheid regime—reflected in identity fragmentation policies, conditional permanent residency, and the annexation wall that isolates neighborhoods and imposes an illegal reality on the ground. These structural forces are compounded by internal factors such as rising poverty, domestic violence, family fragmentation, and a lack of responsive institutional support. The absence of proper monitoring mechanisms, oversight bodies, and locally owned data systems further deepens the crisis.
2023 marked the deadliest year for children in Jerusalem—with a 250% increase in child killings.
The study highlights an unprecedented spike in intentional killings of children. In Jerusalem alone, 17.5% of all child victims in Palestine were from the city. The number of child arrests in Jerusalem exceeded the total number of child arrests in all other governorates combined prior to October 7, 2023.
Furthermore, the use of house arrest policies turned families into both “guards and prisoners,” inflicting severe psychological and social consequences on children and parents alike.
No national policy or dedicated budget exists for children in Jerusalem.
In the absence of an activated “Capital Law” and a unified national policy to confront the apartheid system and ongoing oppression, Jerusalem remains isolated and marginalized. The study warns of a looming collapse in the resilience of Jerusalemite communities and the protection of Palestinian children and institutions in the city.
Recommendations:
The study calls for the following key actions:
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Ensure respect for the Geneva Conventions (Common Article 1) in the protection of children in Jerusalem.
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Activate the 2024 UN General Assembly resolution declaring the illegality of the occupation and the ICJ advisory opinion.
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Increase direct and sustainable financial and programmatic support for grassroots institutions in Jerusalem.
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Establish independent documentation of violations in line with UN and International Criminal Court standards.
At the national Palestinian level, the study urges:
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Developing a comprehensive and inclusive national policy for Jerusalem and its children.
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Activating the 2002 Capital Law and allocating an independent budget for the city.
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Creating executive regulations in partnership with the Jerusalemite community.
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Building localized monitoring and documentation units and data systems.
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Investing in training programs on monitoring, advocacy, and accountability.
This study was prepared by international law and human rights expert Dr. Issam Abdeen, within the framework of the “Ma’an Nasta’teer” (Together We Can) project, in partnership with War Child, the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC), and the Human Rights and Democracy Media Center – SHAMS.
