Blindfolds
The overwhelming majority of minors continue to be blindfolded following their detention by the military. In most cases minors remain blindfolded for many hours until taken to an interrogation room for questioning. In a small number of cases minors remain blindfolded during interrogation.
In February 2013, UNICEF recommended that the practice of blindfolding or hooding children should be prohibited in all circumstances.
In May 2013, the IDF Legal Advisor for the West Bank issued a letter to the heads of all Brigades, Divisions, Police and Military Police operating in the West Bank reminding all units of existing standard operating procedures and policies in relation to the arrest of minors. Existing standard operating procedures stipulate that: blindfolding should only be used when there is a security need.
In August 2019, lawyers for the military authorities informed Israel’s High Court “that military orders and regulations forbid blindfolding of detainees, and action to clarify the rules has been taken and will continue to be taken on a continuous basis.”
The evidence indicates that military regulations and UNICEF’s recommendation continue to be ignored as a matter of routine.
Additional cases
