Israel's mass detention of Palestinians after October 7, 2023 drew international scrutiny over legality, conditions, and alleged abuse of thousands of detainees.
Key Facts
- Gazan workers deported
- 3,200 deported to Gaza Strip on 3 November 2023
- Prisoners in Israeli custody
- Nearly 10,000 as of April 2025
- West Bank arrests
- Approx. 18,000 between Oct 7, 2023 and Aug 2025
- Khan Younis mass arrest
- ~150 men and boys shown stripped, tied, and blindfolded
- Detainee categories
- Journalists, politicians, medics, workers, women, children
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israeli authorities began large-scale arrests of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel itself. Those detained included individuals suspected of militant activity, those flagged for social media posts, Gazan workers already present in Israel, and many arrested without clear justification.
Israel conducted mass arrests and detentions of Palestinians from October 2023 onward, holding thousands across multiple facilities. Detainees included civilians, journalists, physicians, and political figures. Human rights organizations and news outlets reported widespread allegations of mistreatment, torture, and sexual abuse. A widely circulated mass arrest image from Khan Younis was later acknowledged not to depict a genuine Hamas surrender.
International human rights organizations raised serious concerns about the legality and conditions of the detentions. Thousands remained in custody without publicly known charges. The Khan Younis episode prompted further scrutiny of Israeli military conduct and information practices, while prisoners' organizations documented a continuing rise in the total number of Palestinians held in Israeli custody through 2025.