RAMALLAH: The number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons has reached around 9,350 as of the beginning of September 2026, according to figures released by Palestinian prisoner institutions. The data includes approximately 90 women and more than 350 children.
The figures, published on Wednesday, are based on information available to Palestinian prisoner institutions as well as data released by the Israeli prison administration concerning certain categories of detainees. The institutions have cautioned that the actual number of Palestinians being held by Israel could be higher, particularly because complete information about detainees from the Gaza Strip remains unavailable.
More Than 3,100 Held Under Administrative Detention
According to the latest figures, 3,176 Palestinians are being held under administrative detention.
Administrative detention allows authorities to hold individuals without publicly disclosing charges or conducting a regular trial, with detention orders potentially being renewed for additional periods.
Palestinian prisoner institutions said administrative detention has remained at a high level throughout 2026. Their figures put the number of administrative detainees at around 3,532 in early April, 3,376 in early May, and 3,244 at the beginning of July, before falling to 3,176 in September.
Despite the decline in the overall number, the institutions say Israeli authorities continue to issue new administrative detention orders and renew existing ones.
Over 350 Palestinian Children in Prison
The latest data also indicates that more than 350 Palestinian children are currently being held in Megiddo and Ofer prisons.
The number of detained children has remained relatively stable throughout the year. Palestinian prisoner institutions estimated that approximately 360 children were detained in May, while the April figure was around 350.
Around 90 Palestinian women are also reported to be held in Israeli prisons. The prisoner institutions say administrative detention continues to be used against Palestinian women as well.
1,393 Classified as ‘Unlawful Combatants’
The data further lists 1,393 detainees classified by Israel as “unlawful combatants.”
However, Palestinian prisoner institutions stressed that this figure does not represent the complete number of Palestinians held under this classification.
According to the institutions, the figure does not include all detainees from Gaza who are being held in detention camps operated by the Israeli military. The category also includes Arab detainees from Lebanon and Syria, making it difficult to establish the exact number of Palestinian detainees falling under this classification.
Reports of Deteriorating Prison Conditions
The issue extends beyond the number of detainees. Recent reports from the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs have alleged worsening health and living conditions inside Israeli prisons.
On September 13, the Commission reported, based on visits by its lawyers and statements from prisoners, an escalation in raids and restrictions at Negev Prison. The report alleged that prison rooms were raided, prisoners were subjected to attacks and stricter measures were imposed inside different sections.
The Commission also published a report the same day concerning sick prisoners at Ganot Prison, alleging shortages of clothing and food, difficult living conditions and inadequate medical care.
Another report highlighted the alleged deterioration in the health and humanitarian conditions of three prisoners at Ofer Prison, including an elderly prisoner suffering from chronic illnesses and the reported effects of an assault during his arrest.
Gaza Detainees Remain a Major Information Gap
One of the biggest challenges in determining the overall number of Palestinians detained by Israel concerns people from the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian prisoner institutions say they have limited access to information about detainees being held in camps operated by the Israeli military. As a result, the publicly available figures may not provide a comprehensive account of all Palestinians currently held by Israel.
The institutions therefore stress that the 9,350 figure should not necessarily be considered a final or complete total.
The latest figures come amid continuing international attention to Israel’s detention practices, including administrative detention and the detention of Palestinian children and women, as well as allegations concerning prison conditions and access to medical care.
The figures and allegations cited in the reports are based primarily on information released by Palestinian prisoner institutions and the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. Independent verification of all individual cases and the complete detainee count remains difficult, particularly concerning detainees from Gaza.