JAKARTA - More than 350 Palestinian children were detained in Israeli jails by the end of 2025, according to data cited by a human rights group, with many held without formal charges and subjected to harsh conditions, according to advocacy and testimony organizations.
A total of 351 Palestinian minors were in Israeli custody as of December 31, 2025, according to figures from the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) cited by Save the Children.
Of that number, 180 or 51 percent were held under "administrative detention" - a practice that allows for imprisonment without charge or trial.
Human rights groups say conditions surrounding the detentions raise serious concerns.
According to Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP), most of the children detained reported being arrested during night raids, blindfolded, tied up, searched, and subjected to physical and verbal attacks.
"They are often taken from their homes without being able to access lawyers, without being able to speak to their parents," Head of Global Strategic Influencing and Policy at Save the Children Alexandra Saieh told Al Arabiya English, as quoted (7/5).
"From initial arrest to detention, children face abuse, violence, and in some cases even torture," he continued.
Saieh added that Palestinian children are "the only children in the world who are systematically tried in military courts," where, he said, "their rights are not respected at all."
Some detainees reported experiencing or witnessing sexual violence, forced nudity, and beatings, while others described being shocked in interrogation facilities.
One detainee reportedly told of being held in a room known as a "disco room" where loud music was played continuously while he was denied food, water and access to a toilet.
"For six days I was only given a little drinking water every day. I was beaten endlessly and sometimes shocked," the prisoner said, describing conditions that left him injured and bleeding, according to testimony published in a January 2026 report by Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
The testimony is consistent with broader findings by DCIP, which said children are often interrogated without the presence of a lawyer or family member.
The issue has gained further attention following the death of Walid Ahmad (17), the first known Palestinian minor to die in Israeli custody since October 2023, according to DCIP.
The autopsy showed he likely died from "extreme malnutrition, possibly prolonged," dehydration caused by the disease, and complications exacerbated by a lack of medical care.
He collapsed in the prison yard and died on March 22, 2025, in Megiddo prison, the group said.
Israeli authorities have consistently denied allegations of torture, saying their actions are in line with international law, but these claims are at odds with the actions of their own government officials.
In November 2025, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir filmed himself alongside handcuffed and supine Palestinian prisoners, in which he appeared to boast about harsh conditions of detention while calling for the death penalty for "terrorists."
On March 30, 2026, the Israeli Knesset passed a law allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murder "related to terrorism." A U.N. committee called it a "severe blow to human rights."
Administrative detention remains a widely used tool, particularly in the occupied West Bank, according to Save the Children. Under this system, detainees can be held for up to six months without being formally charged and without knowing the charges against them.
"In some cases, official charges have never been filed against them," said Saieh. "Children can be detained for up to six months without ever knowing the reason for their detention," he said.
The most common charge against minors, according to the organization, is stone throwing, which can carry a sentence of up to 20 years. Children aged between 14 and 17 years old make up the majority of those detained.
"This is not just a number. This is total destruction in Palestine," he said.
Advocacy groups warn the impact of widespread detentions goes far beyond the release.
Children often have difficulty reintegrating into their communities, suffering from anxiety, nightmares, difficulty concentrating at school, and social isolation.
"The experience in these detention centers often has an impact on them for life," he explained.
"It's very traumatic," Saieh warned.
He added that the situation had deteriorated since October 2023, with an increase in reports of hunger, violence and harassment.
The Israeli Prison Service did not respond to several requests for comment sent by email.
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