- Under Israeli military law army commanders have full executive, legislative and judicial authority over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Palestinians have no say in how this authority is excercised.
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- Israeli military authorities in the West Bank continue to rely on the Fourth Geneva Convention as the legal basis for prosecuting Palestinian civilians, including children, in military courts. The same Convention prohibits settlement construction.
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- Military courts used to prosecute civilians are permitted under international law but only on a temporary basis. Israeli military courts used to prosecute Palestinians from the West Bank have been operating since 1967.
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- Israeli children, including those living in West Bank settlements built in violation of international law, have far more rights and protections under civilian law than Palestinian children living under military law.
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- Since 1967, over 1,800 military orders have been issued but few have been promptly translated into Arabic, as is required under the Fourth Geneva Convention. In theory, these laws have no legal effect until translated
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- In 2013, UNICEF published a report which concluded that "the ill-treatment of children who come in contact with the military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalised throughout the process".
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- Most Palestinian children detained by the Israeli military in the West Bank live within 2 kilometres of a settelement built in violation of international law, or a road used by settlers.
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- Dual Israeli legal systems operate in the West Bank. Palestinians are prosecuted in military courts, whereas Israeli settlers are prosecuted in civilian courts, with far greater rights and protections.
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