Israel has banned the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting Palestinian prisoners held under a law that classifies them as “unlawful combatants, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced. The order was issued just hours before the country’s top court was set to hear a case on the matter.
Katz stated that allowing the Red Cross access to prisoners labeled as terrorists would pose serious security risks, emphasizing that the safety of the state and its citizens is the priority. The ban applies to thousands of detainees listed under this law, which allows for indefinite detention without charge in military facilities.
The ICRC has not been allowed visits to these prisoners since the law’s implementation in 2002, except for some pre-release interviews conducted under ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreements. The organization describes its visits as purely humanitarian, aimed at assessing detainees’ treatment, ensuring conditions meet international standards, and facilitating contact with families.
Human rights groups have reported delays and obstacles faced by lawyers trying to visit Palestinian detainees, with Israeli authorities citing security concerns related to communication between prisoners and Palestinian groups.
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