Red Cross 'deeply' concerned over reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons

GENEVA

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it is "deeply" concerned over recent reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli places of detention, reminding Israel of its obligations.

"The ICRC is deeply concerned about recent reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli places of detention," Sarah Davies, the public relations officer of the ICRC, told Anadolu. "Wherever and whoever they may be, detainees need to be treated humanely and with dignity at all times."

Davies said treating detainees humanely and with dignity is an international legal requirement applicable to all detaining authorities in Israel and the occupied territories.

She said the ICRC is committed to its mandate and responsibilities and will continue stressing the relevant authorities' legal obligations for as long as necessary.

Regarding the calls from human rights groups such as the Amnesty International to Israel to let the Red Cross conduct visits to monitor the situation of Palestinian detainees, she said such visits have been suspended until further notice by Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

"The ICRC has since not been able to visit any Palestinian detainees held in Israeli places of detention," she said, adding that it is engaging the relevant authorities on "this critical matter in its usual bilateral and confidential dialogue."

She emphasized that the ICRC stands ready to resume its regular detention visits at "the earliest opportunity" to continue, among other things, the monitoring of the treatment of detainees and the conditions of detention in all relevant facilities.

"This remains a priority for the ICRC in Israel and the occupied territories," she added.