The Red Ribbons Campaign, an advocacy initiative campaigning for the release and protection of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, has urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to press Israel to resume regular visits to Palestinians held in Israeli custody.
In an open letter published yesterday, the campaign called on the ICRC to use all appropriate humanitarian means within its mandate to secure the implementation of an Israeli Supreme Court ruling overturning the general ban on Red Cross visits. The letter is open for endorsement by Palestinian, Arab and international individuals and organisations supporting its humanitarian and legal aims.
The ICRC is a neutral humanitarian organisation whose work includes visiting people held during armed conflicts, checking their treatment and detention conditions, speaking to them privately and helping them remain in contact with their families.
The organisation has said that it has been unable to visit Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities since 7 October 2023.
On 3 June, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the ban lacked an adequate legal basis and had to be revoked. The Red Ribbons Campaign is now asking the ICRC to press the Israeli authorities to put that decision into practice.
