News|Child RightsIsrael holding more than half of Palestinian child detainees without chargeRights group says Palestinian children consistently report ‘appalling and debilitating conditions’ in Israeli prisons.

Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) reported that 51% of the 351 Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons at the end of 2025 were held under administrative detention. This figure represents the highest recorded percentage since the organization began monitoring in 2008.

Administrative detention permits the detention of individuals without charge or trial for renewable six-month periods. According to DCIP, these statistics apply to Israeli prisons under the administration of the Israel Prison Service (IPS) and exclude military detention and interrogation centers.

Data from the Palestinian prisoner advocacy group Addameer indicates that, as of March 11, over one-third of the 9,500 Palestinians detained by Israel were held under administrative detention.

DCIP's statement highlights multiple reports from human rights organizations detailing alleged abuses within Israeli detention facilities. These include conditions described as torture, sexual violence, and inadequate medical care. The organization emphasized that such practices violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel ratified.

Israeli authorities have denied allegations of mistreatment. However, in August 2024, the Israeli rights organization B'Tselem characterized the Israeli prison system as a network enforcing a policy of systemic abuse and torture against Palestinian detainees.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.