American Muslims for Palestine Documents Mass Incarceration and U.S. Support for Israel’s Carceral Policies Dear Email, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) has released a new, data-driven report titled The Carceral History of Occupied Palestine, offering one of the most statistically comprehensive analyses to date of Israel’s incarceration practices in Palestine. Drawing on more than five decades of arrest records, military court data, demographic trends, aid appropriations, and prison statistics, the report provides an evidence-based account of how incarceration has functioned as a central pillar of Israel’s occupation. Since 1967, Israeli authorities have arrested more than one million Palestinians—an average of 47 per day. Yet, prison populations have remained relatively stable, with the current number of Palestinian detainees at 10,068 as of May 2025. Despite these arrests, only 1,455 are currently serving time based on a conviction. Over 3,500 Palestinians are being held in administrative detention without formal charges or trial, based on secret evidence. The report documents a sharp increase in administrative detention since October 2023, with detainee numbers rising nearly sevenfold following the start of the war in Gaza.  The report also outlines the dual legal systems that govern the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinians are subject to Israeli military law, while Israeli settlers in the same areas fall under Israeli civilian law. Military courts for Palestinians operate with a conviction rate of 99.7 percent; meanwhile, their legal proceedings are conducted in Hebrew, without the promise of adequate translation or even the basic right to access evidence. “This report demonstrates how incarceration is a core component of Israel’s harassment of the Palestinian population, and an essential element of Israel’s occupation infrastructure,” said Dr. Osama Abu Irshaid, Executive Director of AMP. “Policies that deny due process, detain children, and target civilians are not consistent with democratic values or international law. The continued use of American tax dollars, of which we've given more than $300 billion to date, to sustain these practices is an affront to human rights and basic sense.” Since 1948, Congress has appropriated over $383 billion in inflation-adjusted aid to Israel, including a recent $14.1 billion supplemental package in April 2024. U.S. military financing enables weapons purchases through expedited commercial sales, with limited oversight or restrictions tied to human rights compliance. The report also covers: -
The use of administrative detention, often renewed indefinitely and without trial. -
The detention and prosecution of children as young as 12, including legislation allowing life sentences for minors. -
Reports of torture and mistreatment in detention facilities, including cases of abuse documented by human rights organizations. -
The impact of Israel’s carceral policies on movement, family life, and access to education and healthcare. The full report, "The Carceral History of Occupied Palestine," is now available. It includes citations, methodology sections, and access to the historical data collected for the report covering arrest rates, prison conditions, legislation, and U.S. aid. In solidarity,
American Muslims for Palestine |
