Diplomats and officials expressed deep concern on Thursday over Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz’s decision to bar the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting Palestinian prisoners.
An ICRC spokesperson told Al Jazeera that Israel must allow access to all Palestinian prisoners in its jails and called for humanitarian aid to be kept out of political disputes with any party.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) quoted a senior European ambassador, whose name was not disclosed, as saying that “the Red Cross is the only body legally authorized under the Geneva Conventions to monitor the conditions of prisoners in conflict situations.”
Kan reported that similar positions were expressed by other European diplomats and foreign ambassadors in Israel, without naming them, noting that they warned that “the Israeli decision could place Tel Aviv in further international isolation.”
