Israel’s Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the government must allow representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to resume visits to Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons and military detention facilities, striking down a policy introduced after the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
The court found that the prohibition on Red Cross visits lacked a sufficient legal basis under both Israeli law and Israel’s international humanitarian obligations.
The ruling was issued in response to a joint petition filed by several Israeli rights organizations, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI).
The court ruled that the government had failed to provide a legal foundation for suspending all ICRC visits following the October 2023 attack, in which more than 1,100 people were killed and more than 240 people were taken captive.
According to ACRI, the ban marked the first time in 50 years that Israel had prevented Red Cross representatives from visiting Palestinian prisoners.
The petition against the policy was first filed in February 2024 by ACRI, Physicians for Human Rights, HaMoked and Gisha.
The state requested multiple extensions before a hearing was eventually held in late 2025.
The court also found that the ban did not meet legal standards even while Israeli authorities argued that security considerations justified suspending visits until Israeli hostages were returned.
The ruling clears the way for the resumption of visits to more than 9,000 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons and military detention centers, according to rights groups.
The ICRC welcomed the decision and said it was prepared to restart its detention monitoring activities.
“We take note of the decision of the court and stand ready to resume our work in visiting detainees in Israeli places of detention," said Patrick Griffiths, a spokesperson for the organization.
The Israel Prison Service said it would implement decisions made by the competent courts but did not provide details on when visits would resume.
The decision comes amid continuing scrutiny of detention conditions and allegations of abuse, starvation, denial of medical care and other mistreatment of Palestinian detainees.
ACRI said it would monitor implementation of the ruling to ensure that Red Cross access is restored in practice.