Israeli occupation authorities issued 2,646 administrative detention orders since the beginning of 2023. By the end of September 2023, the total number of administrative detainees reached 1,319, including 20 children and four female detainees.
Human rights sources indicate that this is the highest number of administrative detainees since 2003. Over 80% of the administrative detainees are former prisoners who have been subjected to administrative detention multiple times, including elderly individuals, patients, and children.
Administrative detainees are primarily held in three prisons: Ofer, Negev, and Megiddo, with others held in various other detention facilities. The highest number of administrative detention orders was recorded in July 2023, totaling 370 orders.
Administrative detention is arbitrary detention without charge or trial, denying detainees and their lawyers access to evidence. This practice is a clear and blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Israel remains the only entity in the world to systematically implement this policy.
The occupation authorities and prison administrations justify administrative detention by citing "secret files" that cannot be disclosed. Detainees remain unaware of their charges or the duration of their detention. Administrative detention orders are frequently renewed, often for periods of three, six, or eight months, and in some cases, can extend to a full year.