Marking Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, authorities in Gaza released a detailed statement outlining what they describe as a deepening humanitarian and legal crisis inside Israeli detention facilities. The statement places the total number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees at more than 9,600 as of April 2026, including women and children, and frames the situation as one of sustained and systematic violations occurring during the ongoing genocidal war.

According to the figures presented, 84 women and approximately 350 minors are currently held, raising concerns over compliance with international legal standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The number of administrative detainees—those held without formal charges—has reached 3,532, while 1,251 detainees from Gaza are classified under the “unlawful combatants” designation, a category that allows for extended detention without typical legal safeguards. The statement also notes that hundreds of detainees are civilian public sector workers, highlighting the broad scope of arrests.

The report further points to a sharp rise in deaths in custody since October 2023, with 89 prisoners reported dead during this period. It attributes these deaths to factors including alleged torture, starvation, and medical neglect. Overall, the number of prisoners who have died in detention since 1967 is placed at 326. In addition, Israeli authorities are said to be withholding the bodies of 97 deceased prisoners, a practice criticised as punitive and in violation of humanitarian norms.

Health conditions inside prisons are described as deteriorating, with around 1,200 detainees suffering from chronic or serious illnesses, including dozens of cancer patients who reportedly lack access to adequate treatment. The statement characterises this as part of a broader pattern of neglect, arguing that it places prisoners’ lives at immediate risk.

The statement asserts that these conditions amount to violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, and calls for urgent global action. It urges the United Nations, human rights bodies, and the international community to initiate independent investigations and ensure accountability. It also calls for the release of detainees, particularly those who are ill, minors, women, and those held without trial.

Framing the issue as central and ongoing, the statement concludes that the situation of prisoners remains a defining concern that continues to demand international attention and legal redress.