Who Are the Palestinians Held in Israeli Jails?

Post by : Saif Nasser

In October 2025, Israel released almost 2,000 Palestinians from its prisons in exchange for 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. This was part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza. The release included 250 prisoners who had been convicted or charged with violent attacks. Some of these prisoners were members of Palestinian militant groups. According to Hamas, 154 of the 250 convicted prisoners were deported to Egypt.

The remaining 1,700 prisoners had been held by the military without court rulings during the recent war.

How Many Palestinians Are in Israeli Prisons?
After the recent deal, more than 9,100 Palestinians are held in 23 Israeli prisons and detention centers. There are also additional prisoners in military-run camps like Sde Teiman in the Negev desert and Naftali Camp in northern Israel. Israel does not release details about the number, location, or condition of these prisoners, according to Palestinian rights groups.

Out of the 9,100 prisoners:

Around 3,544 are administrative detainees, held without being sentenced.

About 1,200 have been convicted.

The total includes 400 minors and 52 women.

Since the start of the war, 77 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons, according to reports by Palestinian human rights groups.

Charges Against Prisoners
The 250 convicted or charged prisoners faced accusations including:

Kidnapping

Murder

Participation in shootings or large attacks

Possession of firearms

Membership in militant groups

Other charges, often against civilians like doctors or teachers, included affiliation with militant groups or involvement in protests against Israel.

Administrative Detention
Israel can hold prisoners without trial if they are seen as a security threat. This law applies mainly to Palestinians but has also been used against Jewish Israelis suspected of attacks on Palestinians.

Key points about administrative detention:

Prisoners may be held for months or years without formal charges.

The initial detention period is usually six months, which can be renewed indefinitely.

Prisoners must be brought before a court within eight days, where the order is reviewed.

Judges can accept secret evidence to protect informants, without revealing it to the detainee.

Unlawful Combatants Law
Palestinians from Gaza are sometimes held under the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law. This law allows detention of people believed to have participated in attacks against Israel.

Before the recent prisoner deal, 2,673 Gazans were held under this law.

About 1,700 were released in the latest deal.

Many are held without conviction or official charges, and detention can be extended by judges.

Different Perspectives

Palestinians often view jailed individuals as heroes in their struggle against occupation.

Israel considers those convicted of attacks on its citizens as terrorists.

The issue of Palestinians in Israeli prisons is complex, involving legal, political, and human rights concerns. With thousands detained, many without trial, the situation remains a central point in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups. Recent prisoner releases highlight attempts at negotiation, but the broader issues of detention, charges, and administrative laws continue to affect thousands of Palestinians in Israeli custody.