Israel increasing use of solitary confinement for Palestinians, including for minors

There has been a marked increase in Palestinian prisoners, particularly minors, being held in solitary confinement since Israel's genocide in Gaza began, according to recently published data. 

The data was published this week by Physicians for Human Rights, who obtained it through a freedom of information request to the Israel Prison Service. 

It showed that the number of minors transferred to solitary confinement rose from one in 2022 to 50 in 2023, before spiking significantly to 290 in 2024. 

Meanwhile, the number of adult detainees held in solitary confinement nearly tripled year-on-year in 2024, reaching 4,493. 

Female detainees in solitary confinement rose too, from two in 2022 to 25 two years later. 

The Israel Prison Service has two types of solitary confinement: punitive and deterrent isolation. The former lasts 14 days, while the latter can last for six months, and Israeli authorities are able to renew it. 

According to rights groups, most cases involve Palestinians being held in short-term punitive isolation.

Rights organisations have long been critical of solitary confinement, considering it to be an extreme form of punishment. 

Conditions for Palestinian prisoners have worsened since Israel’s genocide in Gaza began in October 2023. 

Prisoners and detainees have reported food shortages, as well as the spread of diseases within jails and violence committed by prison guards. 

"What was once an exceptional measure has become routine – including for minors and women,” said Oneg Ben-Dror of Physicians for Human Rights. 

She added that the sharp increase of using isolation had raised serious concerns about prisoners’ human rights, as well as their physical and mental health. 

The Israel Prison Service told Haaretz that there had been a “dramatic increase” in the number of security detainees in recent years, including minors. 

It said that comparisons of conditions before and after October 2023 “distort reality” and said that it operated under a policy of “custodial governance” in which it handles any breach of order or discipline in accordance with the law. 

Huge spike in arrests

As of last month, more than 9,600 Palestinians were being held in Israeli jails. 

At least 3,532 of them were held in administrative detention, an Israeli policy which allows the military to detain Palestinians without charge or trial for periods of six months, a period which can be renewed indefinitely.

At least 342 prisoners were children, 84 were women, and 119 were serving life sentences. 

There has been a huge spike in arrests since the Israeli genocide in Gaza began. Before October 2023, around 5,250 Palestinians were held in Israeli prisons.

In March, Israel's Knesset approved a bill allowing the execution of prisoners, by 62 votes to 48, despite international calls to abandon it.

Under the law, anyone who "intentionally causes the death of another person with the intent to harm an Israeli citizen or resident, or to threaten the existence of the State of Israel" could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

The wording effectively targets Palestinians, while Jewish Israelis who kill Palestinians would face, at most, a prison sentence.