Supreme Court Rules Israel’s Ban on Red Cross Visits to Detainees Unlawful
The court said the ban lacked legal basis and cited more than 9,000 Palestinians still held in prison, according to Addameer.
- On Wednesday, The High Court unanimously accepted a petition against the state's blanket ban on International Committee of the Red Cross visits to security prisoners held in Israel Prison Service and IDF facilities, ruling the policy unlawful and must be canceled.
- The policy, introduced following Hamas's October 7, 2023, massacre, remained in force for over two years; the court rejected the state's argument that hostage returns justified a sweeping, open-ended ban without clear legal basis.
- Justice Barak-Erez wrote that the proceedings were "exceptional" due to the state's repeated delays, while Justice Sohlberg agreed the state failed to provide any legal basis for ignoring existing domestic provisions regarding prisoner access.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir denounced the "shameful ruling," while ACRI legal adviser Oded Feller welcomed the decision, citing "horrific" testimonies of abuse and starvation against Palestinian prisoners since the war began.
- Justice Amit noted that at a time when Israel faces serious international allegations, recognized external monitoring mechanisms are of particular importance for detainees from the West Bank and Gaza held by the IPS or IDF.
21 Articles
21 Articles
The Supreme Court of Israel annulled on Wednesday a decision prohibiting delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting detainees in Israeli prisons, considering it to be without sufficient legal basis.
der Standard AT
der Standard DEThe Israeli government has failed to "base its policy on a clear legal framework," judges the Supreme Judges – but whether Minister Ben-Gvir implements the verdict is questionable
Al-Monitor
The Straits TimesIsraeli Supreme Court strikes down ban on Red Cross prison visits
JERUSALEM, June 4 (Reuters) - Israel's Supreme Court has said Israel must allow visits to Palestinian prisoners by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), ruling in favour of a petition against a ban that was brought in at the start of the Gaza war.The bar on Red Cross visits to Palestinian detainees has restricted independent verification of their treatment, following reports of systemic abuse, starvation, and denial of medical car…
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