The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed that Israeli authorities have barred its teams from accessing detention facilities since October 2023, in clear violation of international humanitarian law. The organisation’s spokesperson, Sarah Davis, said the year-long restriction has obstructed efforts to assess the wellbeing and treatment of Palestinian prisoners held under harsh and often undisclosed conditions.

Human rights advocates have warned that the prohibition reflects a broader pattern of concealment surrounding the fate of detainees since the start of the genocidal war on Gaza. Reports indicate that Israeli forces have recently handed over the bodies of nearly 190 Palestinians, most of whom were prisoners showing signs of severe torture, burns, and restraint.

Observers note that many of those who died in custody were civilians detained during raids in Gaza and the West Bank, raising urgent questions about systemic abuse and accountability. The continuing denial of access to prisons underscores the growing erosion of international oversight, and the deepening silence surrounding those still imprisoned.