Actions
A team of visiting pediatric cardiology surgeons from New Zealand are waiting to operate on 1 year, 2 month old Hamza Hassan Abu Habel in Jerusalem. Despite the fact that these surgens leave in 10 days, the Israeli authorities will not allow the infant into Jerusalem until 18 January 2009.
The death sentences against Canadian Mohamed Kohail and Jordanian Mehanna Sa'd have been confirmed. If approved by the Supreme Judicial Council, they could be executed at any time. 17 year old Sultan Kohail is still awaiting retrial at a General Court and is also at risk of execution.
Five children in Gaza need urgent heart surgery. A team of heart specialists is currently conducting a week of surgery in Jerusalem but Israeli authorities have not allowed these children's guardians to leave Gaza, therefore, they have been unable to receive the urgent medical care they need.
Children can and do commit terrible crimes, however, when they do, they should be held accountable in a manner that reflects both their culpability and their special capacity for rehabilitation.
