DaysofPal – Israeli prison forces have introduced new restrictions on visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to Palestinian detainees, according to a report by Haaretz, raising concerns about the terrible situation of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
The newspaper reported that the new Israeli measures were approved approximately one month after the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that a blanket ban on Red Cross visits to Palestinian prisoners was unlawful and must be revoked.
The Israeli occupation had suspended such visits in October 2023 following the outbreak of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
While the court ordered the policy to be overturned, the newly introduced regulations reportedly impose significant limitations on how and when visits can take place.
According to the report, the rules, set to remain in effect for six months, require prior approval for each visit, including security and intelligence reviews.
Visits would be limited to one every three months, with a list of only five detainees permitted per visit.
The measures also exclude certain categories of detainees from visits entirely, as well as individuals held in solitary confinement or under interrogation.
In addition, meetings between detainees and Red Cross representatives would be restricted to approximately 30 minutes and conducted behind a barrier using an intercom system, rather than through private, in-person contact as previously practiced.
The report further stated that representatives would not be allowed to carry communication or recording devices, including mobile phones, cameras, or computers, and would be subject to security searches upon entering detention facilities.
The changes were reportedly implemented without consultation with government legal advisers, despite their potential implications for prisoner rights and compliance with the court’s decision.
Humanitarian organizations have long emphasized that independent and confidential access to detainees is essential for monitoring detention conditions and ensuring adherence to international humanitarian standards.
Such restrictions come amid a difficult situation the Palestinian detainees suffer from inside Israeli prisons, including torture, abuse, rape, and ill-treatment.
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