Report: Over 2,000 Palestinian Children Detained by Israel Since October 2023
A new report reveals that Israeli forces have detained more than 2,000 Palestinian children since October 2023, with 350 currently held under harsh conditions.
Highlights
- Over 2,000 Palestinian children have been taken into custody by Israeli forces since October 2023.
- Approximately 350 Palestinian minors are currently being held in Israeli prisons, reportedly under severe conditions.
- The report alleges that detention practices include intimidation, torture, deprivation of food, and denial of medical care.
- Information on the number of children detained in Gaza remains unclear due to ongoing disappearances.
- The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society calls for international intervention to secure the release of arbitrarily held children and address alleged abuses.
Details
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society issued a report highlighting that Israeli forces have apprehended over 2,000 Palestinian children since October 2023. The organization stated that Israeli authorities are intensifying their targeting of Palestinian minors, with at least 350 children currently enduring harsh circumstances in Israeli detention facilities. For instance, six children from Hebron in the West Bank were reportedly arrested on a recent Tuesday. The exact number of children taken into custody from the Gaza Strip is unknown, attributed to the large number of missing persons and a policy of enforced disappearances in the besieged area.
The report criticizes Israel's policy of holding individuals without charges or specific release dates, describing it as an additional violation that creates uncertainty for children and disrupts their family and educational stability. The document details practices such as intimidation, arrest, torture, starvation, and lack of healthcare. It cites the instance of a 15-year-old, Mohammed Hamid, who allegedly contracted scabies in Ofer Prison, developed severe infections, underwent heart surgery, was admitted to intensive care, and ultimately had a leg amputated. Another case mentioned is that of a 17-year-old, Walid Ahmed, who passed away in March 2025 after six months in Megiddo Prison. Although an Israeli judge halted an investigation into his death, citing an absence of a definitive cause despite indications of starvation, the report underscores these incidents.
Why it matters
This report brings to light significant human rights concerns within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly regarding the treatment of children. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society is urging the global community to take concrete steps to ensure the liberation of children held without due process, initiate investigations into alleged abuses, and put an end to practices like torture, starvation, and the denial of medical assistance in Israeli prisons. This situation emphasizes the critical need for adherence to international law and children's rights conventions.