A new Human Rights Watch report has accused Israeli police of abusing Palestinian children in their custody.

Key points: Human Rights Watch says Israeli police using unnecessary force in detaining children

Human Rights Watch says Israeli police using unnecessary force in detaining children Palestinian children arrested by Israeli forces more than doubled since October 2015

Palestinian children arrested by Israeli forces more than doubled since October 2015 Interrogation tactics deemed "inappropriate for children"

Interrogation tactics deemed "inappropriate for children" Israeli police say terrorist acts are a crime regardless of age

It comes as Israeli authorities announced a 12-year-old Palestinian girl — believed to be the youngest female prisoner ever incarcerated by Israel — would be released from prison early.

Human Rights Watch said Israeli security forces were using unnecessary force in arresting and detaining children, in some cases beating them, and holding them in unsafe and abusive conditions.

The report stated the number of Palestinian children arrested by Israeli forces had more than doubled since October 2015.

Human Rights Watch Israel and Palestine country director Sari Bashi said the interrogation tactics used were "completely inappropriate for children".

"Children were physically abused. Kicked, slapped, put into chokeholds," Ms Bashi told the ABC.

The NGO said the conclusions were drawn after staff conducted interviews with children who had been detained, viewed video footage, and received reports from lawyers.

"Palestinian children are treated in ways that would terrify and traumatise an adult," Ms Bashi said.

"Children were screamed at, they were interrogated and taken from their homes in the middle of the night, made to sign documents in Hebrew that they didn't understand."

Ms Bashi said upon arrest, some children interviewed by the organisation reported spending hours outside in the cold in the early morning and at night, handcuffed in chairs in police compounds.

Meanwhile, Israel's prison service said a 12-year-old Palestinian girl who was imprisoned after she confessed to planning a stabbing attack in a West Bank settlement would be released early.

The case has placed Israel's military justice system in a difficult position as it grapples with a minor who has pleaded guilty to a crime at such a young age. The 12-year-old is believed to be the youngest female Palestinian ever sent to an Israeli prison.

Report 'inaccurate and misleading'

But Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said the report was '"inaccurate and misleading".

"We are here in a democratic society. There are clear strict laws," he told the ABC.

"As far as the Israeli national police are concerned these issues are carefully documented and also recorded if necessary."

In the past six months, Palestinians have killed 28 Israelis and two US citizens in knife, car-ramming or gun assaults.

Israel has killed at least 190 Palestinians, 129 of whom it claimed were assailants.

Many others were shot during clashes and protests.

Mr Rosenfeld said Palestinian minors had been involved in several attacks in recent months.

"We are taking about serious threats and bodily harm to Israelis," he said.

"We have seen an 11-year-old and 13-year-old Palestinians stab Israelis.

"These are terrorists. The age is absolutely irrelevant."