Red Ribbons Campaign presses Red Cross to resume visits to Palestinians in Israeli jails

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.

The campaign said the ICRC should be allowed to visit all relevant detention facilities, speak privately with prisoners and return for follow-up visits. It should also receive accurate information about the identities, legal status, health and whereabouts of detainees.

These arrangements would allow ICRC representatives to examine how Palestinians are being treated, identify concerns and later check whether the authorities have addressed them. Visits limited to selected prisons or prisoners would not allow the organisation to carry out that work properly, the letter said.

READ: Red Cross: Teams unable to reach Palestinian detainees in Israel

Red Ribbons Campaign said it, and its supporters had received reports raising serious concerns about the treatment of detainees, their health, living conditions, family contact and whereabouts. Although the letter stressed that these reports were not findings by a court or the ICRC, it said they required “urgent, independent and confidential humanitarian verification”.  

The campaign asked the ICRC to visit all relevant detention facilities, speak privately with detainees and return for follow-up visits. It also called for the organisation to receive a comprehensive list of those held in Israeli custody.

The letter warned that visits limited to selected prisons or prisoners, or interviews conducted in the presence of Israeli officials, would not allow the ICRC to examine detention conditions independently.

It asked the Red Cross to seek “complete and current information” about every Palestinian detainee and prisoner, including their location, legal status, health and any transfers between facilities.

The campaign also urged the ICRC to “restore or preserve family contact wherever possible”. This would help relatives establish where family members are being held, whether they have been transferred and what is known about their health.

The letter called on the ICRC to examine reports of ill-treatment, medical concerns, inadequate food and hygiene, isolation, overcrowding and restrictions on communication.  

The campaign based its appeal on international humanitarian law, the rules intended to protect civilians and others affected by war and military occupation.