Key facts
- Teenage Palestinian girls Nada Bani Odeh (17) and Ola Qutaishat (16) are detained in Israel's Damon Prison.
- Both girls were arrested by Israeli forces in separate pre-dawn raids.
- The arrests are reportedly linked to social media posts.
- Their families state the detentions have halted their education and future academic plans.
- Nada's mother expressed pride in her daughter's resilience and desire to continue her studies.
- Ola's family described her as a child focused on her studies at the time of her arrest.
- The Israel Prison Service holds hundreds of Palestinian minors in detention.
Two teenage Palestinian girls, 17-year-old Nada Bani Odeh and 16-year-old Ola Qutaishat, are currently detained in Israel's Damon Prison, their educational futures significantly impacted. Both were arrested in separate pre-dawn raids by Israeli forces, reportedly over social media posts. Nada was preparing for her final high school examinations, known as 'tawjihi,' while Ola had just completed her 11th grade and was preparing for her final year. Their families report that the detentions have interrupted their studies and put their academic ambitions on hold, with court hearings repeatedly postponed.
Nada's mother, Gharam Abu Aisha, recounted her daughter's calm demeanor during her arrest on February 12, emphasizing Nada's desire to return and achieve academic success. Nada has continued to inquire about her grades and schooling from prison, seeking reassurance from her mother. Ola was arrested on May 24, also from her family home in Tammun, with her family stating she was studying for an English exam at the time. Her sister described the soldiers' actions, including handcuffing and blindfolding Ola without clear explanation, and the family's distress over the situation.
According to the Israel Prison Service, as of late December, 351 Palestinian minors were held in detention or prison on security grounds, with an additional 106 held for illegal presence in Israel. The families of both Nada and Ola express deep concern over the prolonged legal processes and the uncertainty surrounding their daughters' futures.