The editorial of the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz highlighted the categorical refusal shown by the Israeli government to allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit thousands of Palestinian detainees. The newspaper affirmed that this intransigence comes despite Israel's signing of the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions, which impose clear legal obligations to guarantee the rights of prisoners and detainees.
Sources explained that Tel Aviv is trying to justify this ban under the pretext of reciprocity, claiming that the Hamas movement prevented similar visits for Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip. However, the newspaper criticized this logic, noting that a state claiming sovereignty should not compare itself to resistance movements, especially after the file of Israeli prisoners who were previously held was closed.
In a related context, the editorial held National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir directly responsible for the severe and unprecedented deterioration in detention conditions. Reports indicated that the policies pursued by Ben-Gvir were characterized by inhumanity, leading to the transformation of detainees into ghosts and skeletons due to systematic ill-treatment.
The data received revealed shocking statistics, with more than 80 Palestinian detainees dying inside prisons as a result of direct torture or deliberate starvation and medical neglect. These figures align with the testimonies of those released, who conveyed horrifying images to the world of what happens behind closed walls, away from international scrutiny.
The newspaper touched upon what American writer Nicholas Kristof published in the New York Times, where he documented testimonies from 14 former detainees about horrific violations and sexual assaults. Despite the occupation authorities' denial of these accusations and their description as a 'blood libel,' the international repercussions of these reports caused a stir in political circles and exposed the falsity of the official narrative.
Regarding diplomatic efforts, Haaretz revealed the existence of secret negotiations between Israel and the International Committee of the Red Cross aimed at reaching a formula for limited visits. However, the newspaper described this step as 'worthless' because it excludes meeting detainees and directly examining their health and legal conditions, which reinforces the blackout strategy.
The editorial also warned of reports confirming that hundreds of Palestinian children are subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and deprived of adequate food. It considered these practices against minors to be a blatant violation of all international conventions, placing Israeli society before a moral and ethical stain that cannot be easily erased.
Sources concluded that the leaked footage and the show visits made by Ben-Gvir to prisons reflect a desire for revenge rather than the application of law. The newspaper concluded by emphasizing that the continuation of this situation threatens to turn prisons into legal black holes, necessitating real international pressure to open the doors of detention centers to independent humanitarian oversight.
A sovereign state should not compare itself to the Hamas movement, especially since Israeli prisoners were released a long time ago, and there is no longer any justification for preventing visits.
שתף את דעתך
Haaretz opens the file on occupation prisons: Systematic blackout and violations pursuing thousands of detainees