Since the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory in 1967, an estimated 700,000 Palestinians have been detained under Israeli military orders in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT), which constitutes approximately 20 percent of the total Palestinian population in the OPT, and as much as 40 percent of the total male Palestinian population. There are currently at least 7,834 Palestinians in Israeli prisons and detention centers, of which 53 are women and 355 are children under the age of 18.

Every year, dozens of Palestinian prisoners and detainees are held in solitary confinement, as a disciplinary measure, or in isolation, for reasons of state, prison or prisoner’s security. An unknown number of detainees who pass through interrogation facilities are held at any given time in isolation. With regards to persons in prison custody, between 35 and 40 prisoners are currently held in isolation for mental health conditions, and 12 are held in isolation for reasons of state or prison security. An unknown number of prisoners are held at present in solitary confinement. Although rules exist under Israeli and international law to closely govern the use of solitary confinement and isolation, both measures are often used impermissibly and at great cost to Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

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