Israel holding more than half of Palestinian child detainees without charge

"More than half of the Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons at the end of last year were being held without charge or trial, a Palestinian rights group has said, as concerns mount over reported abuses in Israeli detention facilities. In a statement on Wednesday, Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) said 51 percent of 351 detained Palestinian children were being held in what's known as administrative detention as of December 31, 2025."

"That is both the highest number and the highest proportion on record since the group began monitoring the figures in 2008, it said. Citing newly released Israel Prison Service (IPS) statistics, DCIP said the figures account for Israeli prisons under IPS administration but do not include children held in Israeli military detention and interrogation centres."

"There is no available data for the number of children or adults detained at these sites, though DCIP has gathered firsthand testimonies from previously detained children describing systematic torture and dehumanizing conditions, the organisation said. Palestinians across the occupied territories, including children, have faced a surge in arrests and detention in the shadow of Israel's genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023."

Defense for Children International-Palestine reports that 51 percent of 351 detained Palestinian children were held in administrative detention as of December 31, 2025, the highest number and proportion recorded since 2008. Administrative detention allows Israel to hold Palestinians without charge or trial for renewable six-month periods. These figures cover Israeli prisons under IPS administration but exclude children in military detention and interrogation centers, where data is unavailable. Firsthand testimonies from previously detained children describe systematic torture and dehumanizing conditions. Palestinian arrests and detention have surged since October 2023, with approximately one-third of 9,500 detained Palestinians held under administrative detention as of March 11.

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