More than 9,500 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli prisons, according to the latest figures released by Palestinian prisoner advocacy organisations. The data, compiled by groups including the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, indicates a steady rise in detentions, with the total increasing by around 2.15 per cent in early March 2026 alone amid the continuing genocidal war.

Among those detained are 73 women and roughly 350 children. Many of the minors are reportedly held in facilities such as Megiddo Prison and Ofer Prison. Prisoner groups say families often struggle to maintain contact with relatives inside these facilities due to tight restrictions on visits and communication.

Administrative detention remains the largest category of imprisonment, with 3,442 Palestinians currently held under orders that allow incarceration without formal charges or trial. In addition, Israeli authorities classify 1,249 detainees as “illegal fighters,” a designation that rights advocates say has been applied widely since the escalation of the genocidal war. The figures also include Arab detainees from Lebanon and Syria.

Human rights groups report that prison conditions have deteriorated significantly since October 2023. Accounts from detainees and their families describe severe overcrowding, restricted food supplies, confiscation of personal belongings and limited family contact. Advocates also warn of rising reports of abuse and medical neglect, while Israeli lawmakers continue to discuss new legislation that could impose harsher detention measures on Palestinian prisoners.