Wed | Jul 1, 2026

Israel holding over 1,000 without charge, most since 2003

Published:Tuesday | April 4, 2023 | 9:28 PM
Palestinians wave flags during a rally marking the 47th anniversary of Land Day, along the border fence with Israel, east of Gaza City, Thursday, March 30, 2023. An Israeli human rights group says that Israel is holding over 1,000 Palestinian detainees without charge or trial, the highest number since 2003. HaMoked, an Israeli rights group that regularly gathers figures from prison authorities, said Tuesday, April 4, that as of April 2023 there were 1,016 detainees held in administrative detention. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel is holding over 1,000 Palestinian detainees without charge or trial, the highest number since 2003, an Israeli human rights group said Tuesday.

Israel says the controversial tactic, known as administrative detention, helps authorities thwart attacks and hold dangerous militants without divulging incriminating material for security reasons.

Palestinians and rights groups say the system is widely abused and denies due process, with the secret nature of the evidence making it impossible for administrative detainees or their lawyers to mount a defence.

HaMoked, an Israeli rights group that regularly gathers figures from prison authorities, said that as of April, there were 1,016 detainees held in administrative detention.

Nearly all of them are Palestinians detained under military law, as administrative detention is very rarely used against Jews.

Four Israeli Jews are currently being held without charge.

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