'Israel' prevents ICRC from attending to prisoners since October 7

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Nov 2023 17:21
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The ICRC spokesperson confirms that "Israel" is preventing the ICRC from entering Israeli prisons to check on Palestinian prisoners amid a soaring arrest campaign in the West Bank.

A placard is posted in front of the sealed International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office by angry Palestinian protesters, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (AP)

The International Committee of the Red Cross has not been allowed to visit Palestinian prisoners since the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, as confirmed by the ICRC spokesperson Fatima Sator on Tuesday. Sator revealed that these measures are imposed at a time when the Israeli occupation forces have arrested at least 1,500 more Palestinians from the West Bank since the start of the operation.

"Since October 7, Israel has not permitted the ICRC to visit Palestinians under arrest in the country," said Sator in a briefing in Geneva when asked if the ICRC had the opportunity to check on the health of those arrested, before adding, "We regret this situation and keep reminding [Israel] of its international obligations."

🚨Continuous attacks by the IOF against our Staff in the field. Today in Tulkarm camp where an ambulance was surrounded, inspected, and a wounded person inside was detained. Infrastructure around the camp was also destroyed, making it difficult for ambulances to reach.… pic.twitter.com/Vum56HGe6y
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) November 14, 2023

It is important to note that Al Mayadeen had reported on November 9 that since October 7, the occupation has conducted near-daily raids on cities, towns, and refugee camps in the occupied West Bank since October, intending to oppress mass movements and support for the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza.

Israeli occupation forces have detained more than 1,850 Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied 1948 territories as part of their efforts to suppress Palestinian voices and action.

'Israel' detains head of High Follow-up Committee over Gaza protest

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation police arrested Mohammad Barakeh, the chairman of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee for 48' Palestinians, on November 9, over mere plans to organize a protest against the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza.

According to local media, the occupation police took Barakeh to a police station for questioning in the "Nof HaGalil" settlement.

Barakeh was taken into custody by the police from his car near al-Nasira, according to a statement released by the human rights group Adalah.

According to the statement, Barakeh was detained for interrogation at the former police station in "Nof HaGalil" while en route to a protest march against the war on Gaza.

It further stated that Yusuf Tatoor, Hanin Zoabi, Sami Abu Shahada, and Mahmoud Mawassi had all been detained by police on the same grounds.

Meanwhile, according to a statement from the Israeli occupation police, Barakeh was taken into custody for interrogation because he was organizing an event that "could lead to incitement or harm public peace."

This comes one day after Barakeh informed the commander of the Israeli occupation police station in al-Nasira of the intention of the Higher Follow-up Committee to organize a protest in al-Ain Square in the city, with the participation of 50 people.

At the time, he emphasized that arranging this demonstration “does not require a license,” urging the Israeli authorities not to persecute or ban the rally.