Report: Over 2,000 Palestinian Children Detained by Israeli Forces Since October 2023

A new report from the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reveals that Israeli forces have detained more than 2,000 Palestinian children since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. The organization highlights that at least 350 of these minors are currently being held under what it describes as "harsh conditions" within the Israeli prison system. While the exact number of children detained from the Gaza Strip remains obscured by the ongoing conflict and widespread disappearances, the report underscores a systematic pattern of arrests across the occupied West Bank.

The document details harrowing accounts of abuse, including allegations of torture, starvation, and the denial of essential medical care. Among the cases cited is that of 15-year-old Mohammed Hamid, who suffered severe infections and required a leg amputation after contracting scabies in Ofer Prison. Furthermore, the report notes the death of 17-year-old Walid Ahmed in Megiddo Prison in March 2025, where an Israeli judge acknowledged evidence of starvation despite halting the investigation into his death. These accounts reflect broader concerns regarding the treatment of detainees held without formal charges.

International attention has also been drawn to the detention of American citizens, including teenagers Mohammed Ibrahim, Abdalkareem Issa Ahmed Safi, and Adam Wajeh Abdelfattah Karakrah. While Ibrahim was released following significant advocacy from US-based organizations and lawmakers, others remain in custody, with some being transferred to adult sections of prisons upon reaching the age of 18. These cases have sparked diplomatic scrutiny regarding the legal status and safety of minors caught in the regional conflict.

In response to these findings, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society has issued an urgent call for international intervention to secure the release of arbitrarily detained children. The group demands independent investigations into allegations of systemic abuse, torture, and medical negligence within the facilities. As the conflict continues, the organization warns that the policy of indefinite detention without trial leaves thousands of children in a state of legal limbo, deprived of their fundamental rights to family stability and education.