By Elham Asaad Buaras
London, (The Muslim News): At least 11,100 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including 400 children under 18 and 49 women, marking the highest number of detainees since the Second Intifada in 2000. This surge comes as Hamas has agreed to the formation of a national technocratic administration to govern Gaza amid escalating violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis. At the same time, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich unveiled a plan to annex nearly the entire West Bank, raising fears of further regional escalation.
THOUSANDS HELD WITHOUT TRIAL IN ISRAELI PRISONS
Rights groups report that among the 11,100 detainees, thousands are held without trial.
“There are 3,577 Palestinians held administratively without trial or charge under Israel’s policy of administrative detention,” the Palestinian Prisoner Society, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, and the Commission of Detainees Affairs said.
Additionally, 2,662 detainees are classified by Israel as ‘unlawful combatants’, with human rights organisations documenting torture, abuse, starvation, and medical neglect in detention centres.
HAMAS ENDORSES TECHNOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION
Against this backdrop, Hamas confirmed its agreement to form the technocratic administration and expressed readiness for a broader deal.
“Hamas is still awaiting Israel’s response to the proposal put forward by mediators on Aug. 18, which was accepted by the group,” it said.
The group seeks the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, an end to the war, withdrawal of Israeli forces, open crossings for aid, and the start of reconstruction.
RISING DEATH TOLL IN GAZA
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 63,746 Palestinians killed and 161,245 injured by Israeli bombings since October 2023. In the past 24 hours alone, 113 bodies were brought to hospitals, and 304 people were injured. “Some victims remain under rubble or on roads where rescuers have been unable to reach them,” the ministry added.
More than 70 people, including aid seekers, have died in Israeli attacks as the army launched a new phase to seize Gaza City’s main urban centre.
Children continue to be among the most affected. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reported 21,000 children disabled and 40,500 suffering new war-related injuries, over half permanent. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 132,000 children under five are projected to face acute malnutrition by mid-2026, double previous estimates.
Israeli attacks continued across Gaza, including Rafah, Al-Maghazi, Sheikh Radwan, and western Gaza City. In Rafah, a drone attack on a tent shelter killed two and injured dozens. Homes and shelters near the Ranteesi Specialist Hospital were targeted, leaving 10 Palestinians dead and 18 injured. In western Gaza City, a strike killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
The Israeli army announced a new phase of Operation “Gideon’s Chariots” to seize Gaza City. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told troops, “Returning our hostages is both a moral and national mission.”
WEST BANK ANNEXATION SPARKS INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY
In the West Bank, Smotrich’s annexation plan has drawn global condemnation. The proposal aims to absorb most of the territory while leaving six Palestinian cities—Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem, Jericho, and Hebron—as isolated population centers. It seeks “maximum territory and minimum Arab population”, dismissing the possibility of a Palestinian state.
Global leaders, including the UAE, have warned the proposal is a “red line”, while Palestinian officials and Hamas condemned it as illegal and provocative. The plan comes amid growing international criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza and renewed calls by countries such as France, Britain, Australia, and Canada to recognise a Palestinian state.
[Photo: Close relatives of a Palestinian killed in an Israeli raid in Balata camp in Nablus, West Bank, on September 03, 2025. Photojournalist: Nedal Eshtayah/AA]
