Israel Supreme Court Lifts Red Cross Prison Visit Ban

The Israel — Supreme Court of Israel>>> unanimously ruled that the government's ban on visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross>>> (ICRC) to Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons is illegal and must be repealed. The ban was imposed following the October 7, 2023, Hamas>>>-led attack on Israel>>>, with the state arguing security interests demanded its suspension until all Israeli hostages were returned. However, the court found no adequate legal basis for the prohibition under Israeli or international law. This decision follows a joint petition by several Israeli rights organizations, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel>>>, Physicians for Human Rights>>>, HaMoked>>>, and Gisha>>>. The International Committee of the Red Cross>>> welcomed the ruling and expressed readiness to resume its visits, which are considered an obligation under international law. Concerns about the ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons have been growing, with reports of systemic abuse, starvation, and denial of medical care.