[24 October 2011] – On 19 October 2011, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Britain’s largest teachers’ union with over 250,000 members, issued an appeal for the release of all Palestinian child detainees currently held in Israeli detention facilities.

As of 1 October 2011, there were 164 Palestinian children aged between 12 and 17 years in Israeli prisons. The majority of these children are accused of throwing stones. Frequent reports relating to the ill-treatment and torture of children in the Israeli military court system continue to be received, as well as the denial of basic rights, such as prompt access to a lawyers, being informed of the right to silence and having a parent present during questioning. Christine Blower, the General Secretary of the NUT, welcomed the recent decision of the Israeli military authorities to raise the age of majority in the military courts from 16 to 18 in line with international standards, but noted that no children were included in the recent prisoner release on 18 October 2011.

The NUT’s appeal to members follows similar appeals made by UNICEF and members of the European and UK parliaments.