Red Ribbons Campaign Urges Red Cross to Resume Visits to Palestinian Detainees in Israeli Prisons

The Red Ribbons Campaign, an advocacy initiative focused on Palestinian rights, has requested the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to reinstate regular visits to Palestinians detained in Israeli facilities. This call follows a June 2024 Supreme Court ruling deemed the prior ban on such visits legally invalid.

In an open letter, the campaign emphasized the ICRC’s mandate to assess detention conditions, conduct private interviews with detainees, and provide families with critical information. It stressed that restricted access—such as limited prison visits or interviews conducted with Israeli officials—would compromise the organization’s ability to ensure humane treatment.

Since October 2023, the ICRC has been barred from visiting Palestinian detainees. The campaign argues that regular, independent access is essential to monitor health, living conditions, and family communication, which are vital for compliance with international humanitarian law.

The ICRC, a neutral humanitarian body, has highlighted the severity of reports regarding detainee treatment, including concerns over food, hygiene, overcrowding, and isolation. The campaign further advocated for the ICRC to obtain a comprehensive list of detainees, including their locations, legal statuses, and health statuses.

Drawing on Article 143 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the campaign underscored the ICRC’s responsibility to visit detention sites without witnesses, ensuring transparent assessment of conditions. It also referenced the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion, which condemned Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories as unlawful.

The letter called for a 14-day written response from the ICRC, confirming whether unrestricted visits have resumed. It explicitly stated that the aim was practical access, not public confrontation, while clarifying that sensitive information would not be disclosed to protect detainees and the ICRC’s operations.

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