Summary
A report by Defense for Children International-Palestine reveals that more than half of Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons as of the end of 2025 were held without formal charges or trials. Known as "administrative detention," this practice allows for detention without trial for renewable six-month periods. Various human rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of these detainees, reporting on alleged abuses in Israeli detention facilities.
Key Facts
- Over 50% of Palestinian children in Israeli prisons at the end of 2025 were held without charge or trial.
- This detention method is called "administrative detention" and has been used extensively on Palestinians.
- As of March 11, over a third of 9,500 detained Palestinians were held under this policy.
- DCIP reported that the number of children held this way is the highest recorded since 2008.
- Administrative detention allows renewals of six-month detention periods without trial.
- Human rights groups have reported on alleged abuses including torture and poor conditions in these facilities.
- Israel has ratified the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child, which these practices allegedly violate.
