Israeli court sentences 15-year-old Palestinian to 18 years in prison

An Israeli court sentenced 15-year-old Muhammad Basil Zelbani, from the Shuafat refugee camp, north of East Jerusalem, to 18 years in prison.

According to a statement from the Palestinian Prisoners' Association, Zelbani was charged with resisting the occupation and was fined 300,000 shekels ($83,333).

Zelbani has been in detention since February 13, 2023. Israeli soldiers demolished the house where his family lived.

The court described the struggle against the occupation as a "crime" and denied the Palestinian youth his right to freedom.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Association, 14,500 Palestinians have been detained in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7, 2023, including 1,115 children.

The number of arrests, raids, and attacks carried out by Israeli forces has increased sharply.