European condemnation of the ban on Red Cross visits to Palestinian prisoners news

On Thursday, diplomats and officials expressed their deep concern over the decision of Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz to prevent the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting Palestinian prisoners.

A Red Cross spokesman told Al Jazeera that Israel must allow access to all Palestinian prisoners in its prisons. He also called for not politicizing humanitarian support or linking it to any political disputes with any party.

For its part, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted a prominent European ambassador, whose name it did not disclose, saying that “the Red Cross is the only body legally authorized under the Geneva Conventions to monitor the conditions of prisoners in situations of conflict.”

The commission said that similar positions were expressed by European diplomats and foreign ambassadors to Israel, without naming them, noting that they warned that “the Israeli decision may place Tel Aviv in new international isolation.”

According to the ambassador, “All parties to conflicts allow the Red Cross to carry out its mission,” pointing out that “the United States has allowed similar visits even in the Guantanamo prison camp since 2002.”

He added that Israel’s neglect of international pressure raises concern in Western capitals and may lead to new diplomatic steps, but he noted that the current focus remains on efforts to achieve peace.

Tel Aviv justifications

According to the Broadcasting Corporation, Tel Aviv justified its previous refusal by not allowing the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to visit its Israeli prisoners, according to its claim, but this justification no longer exists after their release.

The authority noted that Katz’s recent decision “is based on a recommendation from the General Security Agency (Shin Bet),” which considered that visits might allow prisoners to transfer information to members of “Hamas,” according to his claim.

But the European ambassador described this claim as “absurd,” adding, “It is ridiculous to believe that representatives of the Swiss Red Cross will transmit information, and Israel must reconsider, as it has nothing to hide, and allowing visits serves its interest.”

Yesterday, Wednesday, Katz announced his decision to ban visits from thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, according to the Broadcasting Authority, which stated that the list of names included in the decision is confidential and updated periodically.