Israeli Occupation Authorities Detain 530 Palestinians in West Bank

Strategic Insights -

The Israeli occupation authorities carried out 530 detentions in the West Bank in April, including 60 children and 18 women, as part of a systematic campaign of detentions amid a large-scale military assault on the West Bank. The cities of Jenin and Tulkarm bore the brunt of the detentions and assaults, marked by violent field operations that included executions, forced displacement, and widespread destruction of infrastructure. These detentions are part of a broader pattern of human rights abuses in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The total number of detentions in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, has risen to approximately 17,000, including those who were later released.
  • Human rights organizations report an unprecedented surge in administrative detention orders during April, with the number of administrative detainees standing at 3,577, including more than 100 children.
  • Two Palestinians have died in Israeli custody in April, one from Nablus and the other from Bethlehem, with families of detainees from Gaza also notified of their relatives' deaths in Israeli prisons.
  • Testimonies from detainees reveal that Israeli authorities continued to perpetrate physical and psychological torture, deliberate starvation, and medical neglect inside prisons.
  • An autopsy of a minor detainee revealed that deliberate starvation was the primary cause of death, highlighting that the occupation committed an organized crime against prisoners.
  • At least 400 children have been detained, including more than 100 held in administrative detention, subjected to various forms of abuse, including torture, mistreatment, starvation, and denial of education and healthcare.
  • Prisoners' associations warn that time has become an existential threat to the lives of thousands of detainees due to ongoing crimes and lack of meaningful international intervention.

Statistics:

  • 530 Palestinians detained in the West Bank in April.
  • 60 children and 18 women among those detained in April.
  • Total number of detentions in the West Bank since October 7, 2023: approximately 17,000.
  • Number of administrative detainees as of early May 2025: 3,577.
  • Number of children held in administrative detention: more than 100.
  • Number of female prisoners held in Damon Prison: 35, including 2 who are 5 months pregnant and 1 who is battling cancer.
  • Number of children detained as of early May 2025: at least 400.

Sources:

  • "West Bank: Israeli occupation authorities carry out 530 detentions in April" (WAFA English, May 12, 2025)
  • Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS), and Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association reports.