Tel aviv: Israeli authorities are holding an autistic, disabled Palestinian boy in detention and subjecting him to violence by guards and inmates, local media said on Wednesday. The daily Haaretz reported that the 14-year-old boy was detained two weeks ago by the Shin Bet security service and police on suspicion of security offenses, without giving further details. The boy, identified as being on the autism spectrum and fully disabled, was arrested by Israeli forces during a family visit to the occupied West Bank. Authorities have banned publication of his name or the reason for his arrest.

According to Anadolu Agency, the boy appeared four times before the Juvenile Court in Bat Yam in Tel Aviv, where his detention was extended each time. At the most recent hearing on Oct. 22, Judge Tal Levitas Ben Peretz accepted a police request to extend the boy's remand by one week. An appeal by his lawyer, Jgal Dotan, was declined by the judge.

Saja Misherqi Baransi, a lawyer with the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, said she visited the autistic boy last Monday. She described the conditions, stating that the boy was handcuffed, with guards holding his hands above his head and treating him like a security prisoner. The lawyer noted that the teen was beaten by both guards and other prisoners and is being bullied. Baransi described his physical and mental state as poor, with the boy complaining about pain in his throat and head, and suffering from cold due to inadequate bedding and scarce food.

Attorney Dotan highlighted the boy's communication and orientation challenges, noting the severe violence he described experiencing in the detention facility of the Israel Prison Service. Dotan mentioned that the boy's situation has worsened since the last extension of his detention, with reports of abuse by other detainees and constant hunger and cold. The lawyer criticized the investigating unit and the prosecution for neglecting responsibility for the welfare and safety of the minor.

The Israel Prison Service claims that the boy is being held upon a court order and that his rights are fully protected. According to Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, Israel currently holds more than 10,000 Palestinian detainees, including children and women, many of whom are subjected to torture, hunger, and medical neglect, which has caused the deaths of several prisoners.