Palestinian Embassy Highlights Detainee Conditions Ahead of Prisoners' Day

The Palestinian Embassy has issued a press statement drawing immediate attention to the plight of Palestinian prisoners on the eve of 'Prisoners' Day.' The embassy described this as a long-standing issue that has faced widespread criticism from human rights organizations. In its statement, the embassy emphasized that the mass arrest and detention of Palestinians remains one of the harshest measures employed to suppress voices advocating for freedom and self-determination. It was noted that since 1967, approximately 750,000 Palestinians have been arrested and detained.

The statement also highlighted developments following October 7, 2023, claiming that nearly 22,000 Palestinians have been arrested in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem. Among those detained are 1,760 children, over 731 women, and 240 journalists. Furthermore, it was reported that more than 19,954 administrative detention orders have been issued, accounting for about 91 percent of total arrests during this period. Concerns regarding prolonged detention were raised, with the embassy stating that since 1967, 326 prisoners have died in custody, and the bodies of 97 prisoners have yet to be returned to their families. This news is being reported in various media outlets. It was further claimed that 86 of these deaths occurred after October 2023, while many detainees from Gaza continue to face enforced disappearance. According to the statement, approximately 9,600 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including around 350 children and 84 women. Additionally, it was mentioned that 3,532 detainees are held under administrative detention without any charges or trials.

The embassy also accused the authorities of subjecting detainees to harsh conditions, including medical neglect, restrictions on basic rights, physical abuse, and documented cases of sexual violence. It was further stated that since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, reports indicate that over a hundred detainees have died in custody.

The statement criticized the practice of administrative detention, likening it to colonial-era laws such as the Rowlatt Act, and argued that such arrangements continue in altered forms, allowing indefinite detention without charges under the guise of security. Concerns were also raised regarding recent Israeli legislative developments, including the so-called 'death penalty' law concerning Palestinian detainees, arguing that such measures pose serious legal and ethical questions under international law. Citing a report titled 'Another Massacre Behind the Walls' released by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor in April 2026, the embassy stated that Israeli detention centers have transformed into a systematic, state-sponsored structure of abuse, operating with institutional support and impunity. It further noted that the report warns that these practices could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, necessitating immediate international accountability.