A 15-year-old Palestinian boy, Mohammed Basel Zalbani, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison by an Israeli court over his alleged involvement in an attack in the occupied West Bank. The court also imposed a fine of 300,000 shekels ($83,333) on Zalbani, who is from the Shuafat refugee camp in occupied East Jerusalem.

During the trial, the brother of the Israeli soldier killed in the incident attempted to assault and threaten Mohammed, exposing the hostile nature of the proceedings. Zalbani was arrested on February 13, 2023, while aboard a bus in the camp. He was accused of attempting a knife attack that allegedly resulted in the soldier’s death. As part of Israel’s collective punishment policy, his family home was also demolished.

Currently, at least 14,500 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israeli detention facilities, including 1,115 children. The increasing number of Palestinian minors facing harsh sentences reflects the systematic targeting of the younger generation under Israeli occupation.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces and settlers continue their attacks in the occupied West Bank, killing and wounding more Palestinians. Since October 2023, Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza has fueled further violence, resulting in over 48,200 deaths. In the occupied West Bank, more than 900 Palestinians have been killed since October 2024, with intensified military raids, mass arrests, and forced expulsions.

Despite a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange deal that took effect in Gaza on January 19, Israeli aggression persists across Palestinian territories. The case of Mohammed Zalbani underscores the reality of Israel’s punitive policies, where even children are subjected to prolonged imprisonment and collective punishment.