Palestinians in Israeli custody
The fate of Palestinians in Israeli custody is a central topic in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and a key factor in peace talks. People are detained for a range of reasons, including terrorism charges or membership in groups that Israel deems illegal, and many are held without charge under administrative detention.
Today and over the years, the numbers have fluctuated a lot. In 2011, about 4,772 Palestinians were in Israeli prisons, including hundreds serving life terms. By 2022, there were around 4,450 Palestinian prisoners, with about 160 children, 32 women, and more than 1,000 held without charge under administrative detention. In 2024, the total rose to about 9,623 prisoners, with roughly 4,781 in administrative detention. The rise in administrative detentions has drawn particular concern from human rights groups.
Israel runs a military court system for the occupied territories that began in 1967. Palestinians from the West Bank are often treated as foreign civilians in these courts. Critics say the system uses long periods of detention, limits access to lawyers, relies on coercion during interrogations, and sometimes uses secret evidence. International law allows some forms of detention for security reasons, but many rights groups argue that the way this system operates violates basic rights.
Interrogations in the past included aggressive methods. In the late 1990s, courts began to restrict some practices, but concerns about mistreatment persist. Human rights groups have documented cases where detainees died or were left with serious injuries after interrogation. In 2023, Save the Children reported widespread abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention, including beating, strip searches, solitary confinement, poor medical care, and restricted family visits. Amnesty International has also highlighted cases of torture related to Gaza-related detentions.
Hunger strikes have been a notable form of protest. In 2012, about 1,800 prisoners joined a mass hunger strike against administrative detention. Earlier strikes in 2000 drew huge support and led to a deal that temporarily limited some detention practices and improved family visit rights. In recent years, hunger strikes have continued, with some lasting many weeks and drawing international attention.
Education has played a large role inside prisons. In the 1990s, Palestinian prisoners gained access to education, languages, and degrees, including study through Israel’s Open University. In 2011, Israel limited access to university studies for prisoners convicted of terror offenses, though some ongoing programs continued under court or humanitarian oversight.
Prisoner exchanges have shaped the landscape. Israel has released large numbers of detainees in exchanges with Palestinian groups, with notable waves in 1985, 1995, 1998, 2008, and the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal, in which over a thousand prisoners were freed in exchange for Shalit’s release. After those exchanges, some former prisoners returned to activity, while others resumed peaceful or political work. There have also been periodic releases as part of peace negotiations, though negotiations have repeatedly stalled.
After the Hamas-led Gaza war began in 2023, tensions rose. Israel revoked work permits for Gaza residents, and some Palestinians trying to flee or work in Israel went missing or were detained. By late 2025, human rights groups reported dozens of deaths of Palestinians in custody since the 2023 conflict, underscoring ongoing concerns about conditions and treatment inside detention.
A few Palestinians who are well known in politics and activism have spent time in Israeli jails. Prominent cases include long-term detainees like Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Sa’adat, among others, with various political duties and roles inside Palestinian movements.
Overall, while some detainees have been released in past agreements and some prisoners have pursued education from inside prison, Palestinians in Israeli custody face a mix of security-focused detention and ongoing concerns about rights, due process, and humane treatment. International and local human rights groups continue to call for accountability, fair trials, and better conditions for those held, including children and administrative detainees.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:26 (CET).