Coalition Chair Urges Opposition to Support Law Blocking Red Cross Prison Visits to Terrorists

On Monday evening, coalition chairman Ofir Katz made an unusual appeal to opposition members, urging them not to oppose a bill scheduled for a first reading in the Knesset. The proposed legislation aims to prevent representatives of the International Red Cross from entering Israeli prison facilities holding terrorists and from receiving information about these prisoners. Katz emphasized the bill's critical importance for Israel's security, stating it would stop the Red Cross from visiting terrorists in Nuhba prison and warned that without the law, these prisoners would continue to receive assistance.

Katz cited past incidents where the Red Cross allegedly aided terrorists by smuggling goods and equipment during visits, damaging Israel's legitimacy. He called on all Zionist parties, both coalition and opposition, to avoid voting against the bill for the sake of national security. He also warned that failure to pass the bill now would mean it would never pass, leaving terrorists with continued support.

Earlier, the United Torah Judaism party announced it would boycott the Knesset votes due to delays in advancing agreed-upon legislation, leading to an early adjournment of the day's session. Shas expressed its intention to support the bill but criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for insisting on advancing it on Monday rather than Wednesday as previously agreed. Ben-Gvir responded by accusing Shas of harming Israel's security and enabling what he called an antisemitic organization to visit terrorists and spread false accusations against prison guards and the state.

The bill stipulates that Red Cross representatives will be barred from entering prison facilities managed by the Israel Prison Service and the IDF, and information about prisoners will only be shared with the organization with approval from the National Security Minister or Defense Minister, subject to security considerations. The controversy echoes past political tensions, including a 2022 statement by then-opposition MK Miri Regev advocating a combative opposition stance against coalition bills, regardless of their content.