The report published by the Israeli state auditor revealed that the increase in the number of Palestinian detainees and prisoners following the war that began on October 7, 2023, has placed heavy pressure on the prison system. The report noted that the overcrowding in prisons and detention centers is not merely an administrative issue but also affects the operational functioning of security agencies.
Auditor Matanyahu Englman stated that Israel was not prepared to handle such a large wave of detainees at the start of the war. According to the report, the military and Prison Service did not make sufficient prior estimates of how many people could be held in detention during a large-scale war, nor did they complete capacity and infrastructure preparations accordingly.
The report indicated that the crisis worsened with the mass detention of Palestinians following the war. As of February 2025, the number of people held for security reasons reached 10,147, with an additional 2,366 held at military bases.
According to the audit findings, this congestion also impacted some planned detention operations by security authorities. The report noted that some planned detentions in the West Bank were reduced or canceled, and that the limited detention capacity made it more difficult to conduct effective interrogations.
As another consequence of the overcrowding, 19 individuals deemed dangerous by security authorities were released in July 2024. Among them was Muhammad Abu Silmiye, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
The report also stated that the excessive burden affected prison staff. The rapid increase in detainee numbers increased the workload of guards, made prison control more difficult, and disrupted the balance between staff and detainees, raising risks.
The auditor also criticized the failure to prepare indictments against Palestinians allegedly linked to the October 7 attacks by February 2026. This delay was attributed to a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin not to advance judicial proceedings while Israeli captives were held in Gaza.
The report emphasized that expanding detention capacity should be treated as an urgent national project. It recommended preparing a long-term plan between the military and Prison Service and quickly implementing alternatives to imprisonment in some cases.
