Ramallah, May 28 (Petra) – The Palestinian Prisoners Society reported on Wednesday that Israeli occupation forces have arrested more than 17,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

In its latest report, the Society stated that over 10,000 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli prisons, including 45 women and more than 400 children. Since October 7, 2023, at least 70 detainees have died while in custody, 44 of whom were from Gaza. The report noted that Israeli authorities continue to withhold the bodies of 68 deceased prisoners and have not disclosed the identities or circumstances of death for several others.

The Society warned that the actual number of detainees from Gaza remains unknown due to a policy of enforced disappearance. However, figures from the Israel Prison Service indicate that 1,846 Gazans are officially classified as "illegal" combatants, though the true number is believed to be much higher.

The report also revealed that 3,577 Palestinians have been held under administrative detention without charge or trial since the beginning of the Israeli aggression, marking an unprecedented escalation in targeting Palestinians.

The Society underscored that the ongoing arrests are accompanied by grave violations, including physical abuse, home demolitions, confiscation of personal property, the use of detainees as human shields, and the holding of family members as hostages.

The report called for urgent international action to halt these practices and ensure accountability.

//Petra// AO

28/05/2025 15:33:54