On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, slaughtering 1,163 Israelis, including babies, women, and the elderly. In addition to torturing, raping, and burning civilians alive, Hamas kidnapped over 250 Israeli men, women, and children, dragging them into Gaza’s terror tunnels as hostages.
To bring some of these civilians home, Israel was forced into a temporary ceasefire deal, under which it had to release 30 convicted terrorists for every single hostage returned. Among those released were individuals convicted of violent crimes, including stabbings, shootings, and bomb-making.
Now, anti-Israel propaganda seeks to portray these terrorists as “children” and “victims” while ignoring their direct involvement in terrorist activity.
So, what do we know about Palestinian child prisoners, and why are they tried in military courts?
What do we know about Palestinian child prisoners in Israel?
In recent years, Palestinian terrorist organizations have actively recruited minors to carry out violent attacks against Israeli civilians. Many of these so-called “children” have participated in stabbing, shooting, and firebombing attacks, often under the direction of terrorist groups like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
In response to this rising trend, Israel introduced legal measures to hold minors accountable for violent crimes, particularly those involved in acts of terrorism.
A key case was Ahmed Manasra, who at the age of 13 was involved in a brutal stabbing attack that nearly killed an Israeli civilian. His prosecution was not about imprisoning children—it was about preventing terrorist attacks.
Over the past two decades, thousands of Palestinian minors have been arrested for their involvement in terrorism, not for minor offenses like “stone-throwing” as falsely claimed.
Under what law are children detained by Israel?
Palestinians in Judea and Samaria are subject to military law because the region is under military jurisdiction due to ongoing terrorism. Unlike Israeli civilians, who are governed by Israeli civil law, Palestinian suspects are tried in military courts to address the constant threat of terrorism in the area.
Terrorist organizations deliberately exploit children as frontline operatives, knowing that international media will portray them as innocent victims. These minors are often arrested during active terrorist operations or after being caught planning or executing attacks.
Interrogations and detentions are conducted according to legal protocols to prevent future terrorist acts. Claims that minors are held “without charges” are misleading—these individuals are detained based on evidence linking them to terrorist activity.
How many Palestinian prisoners released so far as part of prisoner exchanges are children?
Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in hostage exchanges, including minors. However, nearly all of these individuals were involved in violent crimes, including attempted murder.
The real issue is who remains imprisoned—and why they were arrested in the first place. Many of these minors were recruited by Hamas as child soldiers, trained to use weapons, and sent on terror missions.
Meanwhile, over 100 Israeli civilians, including children and elderly women, remain held hostage in Gaza since the October 7th massacre. Unlike Palestinian prisoners who have legal representation and family visits, Israeli hostages have been tortured, raped, and denied all human rights by Hamas terrorists.
How many Palestinians are in Israeli prisons? Have they faced abuse while in custody?
Currently, around 10,400 Palestinian prisoners are in Israeli custody. The overwhelming majority are convicted terrorists, including those responsible for suicide bombings, shootings, and mass murders of Israeli civilians.
Israel provides detainees with medical care, legal representation, and family visitations, while ensuring that minors are housed separately from adult prisoners.
Contrast this with the barbaric treatment of Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity, where rape, starvation, and psychological abuse are routine. Unlike Israel, Hamas has denied the Red Cross access to Israeli captives and used them as human shields.
How many Palestinian prisoners are being held without charge?
Approximately 3,376 Palestinian detainees are in administrative detention, a security measure used to prevent imminent terrorist attacks. Administrative detention is not unique to Israel—it is a counterterrorism tool used globally, including by the United States and European nations, to preemptively stop violent threats.
Many of these detainees are high-level terrorist operatives with direct links to Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed organizations. The alternative to administrative detention is allowing suicide bombings and mass terror attacks to take place.
What’s next?
While terrorist organizations continue to exploit children as human shields and recruit them for attacks, Israel will continue to take lawful action to protect its civilians.
The real humanitarian crisis is not Palestinian prisoners—it is the 100+ Israeli hostages still in Hamas captivity and the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.
Instead of glorifying terrorists as victims, the world should hold Hamas accountable for its war crimes, including the use of child soldiers and human shields.
Israel will not apologize for defending itself—against terrorists of any age.
