More than half of Palestinian children held in Israeli prisons at the end of 2025 were detained without charge or trial, according to a report by Defense for Children International-Palestine, raising fresh concerns about conditions inside detention facilities.
The group said that 51 percent of 351 detained children were being held under “administrative detention” as of December 31 — the highest proportion recorded since it began tracking such data in 2008. This practice allows Israeli authorities to detain individuals for renewable six-month periods without formal charges.
The figures, based on data from the Israel Prison Service, do not include minors held in military detention or interrogation centres, where independent data is unavailable. However, testimonies collected by the group describe harsh conditions, including alleged torture and inhumane treatment.
The rise in detentions comes amid ongoing tensions following the war in Gaza that began in October 2023. According to prisoner advocacy group Addameer, more than one-third of over 9,500 Palestinian detainees are currently held under administrative detention.
Israel denies allegations of abuse, but rights organisations, including B’Tselem, have accused the system of widespread mistreatment, warning that such practices may violate international law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
