Over 9,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails after Gaza prisoner swap
A Palestinian released from Israeli prison arrives at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza on 13 October 2025
Fayha Shalash in Ramallah reports in Middle East Eye on 14 October 2025:
Despite the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners on Monday as part of a swap deal with Israel, more than 9,100 Palestinians remain in Israeli custody under harsh and deteriorating conditions.
Monday’s exchange saw the release of 20 Israeli captives held in Gaza, marking the third prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas since the war began in October 2023.
A month into the war, 240 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for 105 captives during a brief seven-day truce. A second exchange in January and February saw the release of 1,778 Palestinians in return for 38 captives. In total, 3,985 Palestinians have been freed in exchange for 163 Israelis.
However, with all living Israeli captives now returned, over 9,100 Palestinians remain in Israeli prisons – many of them detained without charge or trial. They are held in what rights groups call “torture camps”, facing daily abuse, beatings, starvation and humiliation.
Mass prisoner surge
Before the war began, there were approximately 5,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. That number has since more than doubled, reaching over 11,100 by October 2025.
Following the most recent prisoner exchange deal, the total number of detainees has decreased to an estimated 9,100. Among those currently imprisoned are 52 women and around 400 children under the age of 18. There are also dozens of medical workers, journalists, activists and civilians held without charge or on vague accusations such as “incitement”.
Overall, there are 3,544 Palestinians held under administrative detention – a practice that allows for indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial.
Hundreds of others seized from the Gaza Strip are being held under Israel’s “Unlawful Combatant” law, also without charge or trial, despite the majority of them not being involved in any military activity, according to the Palestine Center for Prisoners’ Studies.