Red Cross Inspects Israeli Military Facility Ahead of Prisoner Visit Resumption

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on Wednesday that its team conducted an assessment and tour of an Israeli military detention facility. This visit is a preliminary step towards resuming visits to Palestinian prisoners and detainees, which have been suspended since October 2023. However, the ICRC team was not permitted to meet or directly communicate with any detainees during this initial inspection.

The ICRC stated that its team held a technical meeting with detention authorities and toured parts of the facility as part of ongoing efforts to regain access to detainees held in Israeli detention centers. While the discussions with authorities were described as "positive," the team did not meet any detainees. Julian Theis, head of the ICRC mission in Israel and the occupied territories, called the meeting "a step in the right direction" for resuming regular visits.

The ICRC has not disclosed the specific military facility visited or provided a timeline for the resumption of actual visits. The organization reiterated its demand to be informed about the fate and whereabouts of all detainees and to be granted access, emphasizing that international humanitarian law mandates humane treatment and acceptable detention conditions, including communication with families.

This development follows over two and a half years of Israel preventing visits by families and the ICRC, along with halting information flow regarding detainees, since the start of the war in Gaza. In February 2024, human rights organizations filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court demanding the resumption of ICRC visits. On June 4, 2024, the court unanimously ruled the government's policy of preventing ICRC visits illegal and ordered its cancellation.

Reports suggest Israeli authorities sought to delay the court's decision until after the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27. These moves occur amidst deteriorating conditions for Palestinian prisoners, particularly in military detention centers holding many detainees from Gaza, with human rights reports detailing allegations of torture, mistreatment, starvation, medical neglect, and harsh detention conditions. The Prisoners' Affairs Commission reports that Israel holds over 9,400 Palestinians, including 370 children and 92 women.

In a related incident, Knesset Member Ofer Cassif visited G'anot prison on Wednesday, which houses Nafha and Ramon prisons. Despite being allowed access after repeated requests, Cassif was prevented by prison administration from speaking with prisoners or directly observing their detention conditions. He met with the prison official responsible to examine conditions, stating he would continue to fight for prisoners' rights. Over 115 Palestinian prisoners have reportedly died in Israeli prisons and detention facilities since October 7, 2023, with conditions for many remaining outside direct independent oversight.