Israel’s Supreme Court rules that the government must allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit Palestinian prisoners. The decision reverses a prior ban on Red Cross visits to Palestinian detainees, imposed by Israeli authorities in 2023 as the war in Gaza began, which limited independent monitoring of prisoners’ conditions. The court says the restriction violates Israeli and international law, according to multiple reports. The ban has prevented the ICRC from verifying how Palestinian prisoners are treated, including monitoring for conditions and access to essential services. Sources note that the ban reduced independent scrutiny amid allegations and reports of serious mistreatment, including systemic abuse, starvation, and denial of medical care. The ruling therefore supports a petition seeking restoration of Red Cross access. The ICRC’s role, as described across the coverage, is to observe and report on detention conditions, which the court considers permitted and required under relevant legal frameworks. The ruling takes effect by directing authorities to comply with the court’s order allowing visits.