BRITISH security firm G4S was accused by anti-poverty campaigners yesterday of consenting to the arrest and torture of Palestinian children by Israeli authorities.

The world’s largest surveillance provider is responsible for installing and maintaining equipment in Israeli prisons and Gaza checkpoints.

“It is unacceptable that the British multinational G4S continues to profit from Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the collective punishment imposed on the population of Gaza,” said War on Want campaigner and Palestinian poet Rafeef Ziadah. 

It is calculated that almost 200 children are currently being held in Israeli prisons and 5,000 Palestinians live under Israeli detention despite no charges having been brought against them. 

War on Want lobbying recently resulted in Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates selling off all of his G4S shares.

Universities across Britain have also declined or rescinded their contracts with the firm in protest. 

G4S chief executive Ashley Almanza had confirmed earlier this year that contracts with the Israeli state would not be renewed on expiry.