Israel bans Red Cross visits to detained Palestinians

Israeli Defence Minister has banned the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails, a statement from his office announced. Israel Katz said that opinions presented to him by security services “indicate without a doubt that Red Cross visits to terrorists in prisons will seriously harm the security of the state”. The statement announcing the move said the order affects “thousands” of people. Israel has long been criticised for holding Palestinians in degrading conditions, in particular under the tenure of current National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who regularly boasts about abusing the incarcerated.