13-year-old held overnight in custody after being arrested at home for ‘crossing border’

Public defenders in Israel’s Southern District have raised concerns about Eilat police frequently detaining minors without apparent justification. In one case, officers arrived at a teenager’s home where she had locked herself in a safe room, and arrested her on suspicion of crossing the border. The girl was held overnight in custody.

In another incident involving a 15-year-old boy, when it became clear that his parents would be unable to travel to Eilat to collect him, a police representative allegedly suggested he should remain in detention rather than be released to family care.

The cases highlight a broader pattern of concern among public defenders about policing practices in the southern resort city. Public defenders argue that police are too quick to resort to arrest and detention of minors in situations where alternative measures would be more appropriate.

When contacted for comment, police said they “act with sensitivity and responsibility while protecting rights.” The statement did not address the specific cases or the allegations of unnecessary detention of young people.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.