Around 370 Palestinian children are currently held in Israeli prisons, with most detained at Megiddo and Ofer, Anadolu Agency reported, citing a new report from the Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Advocacy.
The children are part of a broader population of more than 9,400 Palestinian detainees held by "Israel" as of early August, the rights organization said.
The report said the detention of Palestinian children by "Israel" had evolved beyond isolated incidents, becoming a recurring element of detention campaigns across the occupied West Bank and eastern al-Quds.
Israeli occupation forces detained 276 Palestinian children in the first six months of this year alone, according to the group.
The organization also highlighted "Israel's" continued use of administrative detention, under which Palestinians can be imprisoned without charge or trial for renewable periods on the basis of undisclosed evidence.
Arrests described as long-standing policy
Marking Palestinian Child Day, observed annually on April 5, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, and Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association stressed that the detention of children is not an exceptional occurrence but rather a systematic and entrenched policy aimed at subjugating an entire generation through organized repression that has affected tens of thousands of minors over the years.
At the time, they noted that detentions often begin with violent night raids, as occupation forces storm homes without warning, accompanied by explosions, forced entry, and the presence of heavily armed soldiers, creating an atmosphere of fear and chaos.
Children are then taken into military vehicles, restrained with handcuffs, and subjected to strict movement restrictions. During transfers through checkpoints and military centers, some face physical abuse and harsh treatment, in addition to being held for long hours without food or water.
In many cases, children are transported blindfolded, intensifying fear and confusion and leaving lasting psychological effects from the moment of arrest.
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