Ramallah, November 21 (RHC)-- A Palestinian non-governmental organization says Israel is holding nearly 350 minors, among them children as young as 15, in prisons and detention facilities across the occupied territories. 

In a statement released over the weekend, the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC) announced that it has documented more than 2,000 cases of child arrests since late 2015, and that most of the detentions have been carried out in Jerusalem al-Quds, Arabic-language Palestine al-Aan news agency reported. 

The PPC further pointed to the crimes that Israeli authorities are perpetrating against Palestinian children, namely direct and deliberate use of firearms, interrogation and detention without offering any food or drink, severe beatings, use of abusive language, threats and intimidation bids as well as forced confession. 

The NGO noted that the ratification of “racist” bills and legislation, and levy of heavy cash fines against families of Palestinian child inmates have reached a record high this year. 

The occupied territories have been the scene of increased tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in August 2015. 

More than 260 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of October 2015.