RAMALLAH / Awad al-Rajoub / Anadolu

Fourteen diplomatic missions to Palestine on Sunday called on Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Palestinian prisoners in its prisons 'immediately', expressing concern over the deteriorating health of Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya.

This came in a joint statement issued by the missions of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, published by the European Union mission on the American platform X.

The missions called on Israel to fulfill its human rights obligations towards detainees under international law, including granting the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate access to all detention facilities.

They also welcomed the Israeli Supreme Court's ruling that banning the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting Palestinian prisoners is illegal, and urged full implementation of the decision.

Israeli authorities have prevented the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting Palestinian prisoners in prisons and detention centers since October 2023.

On June 4, the Israeli Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the government's policy of banning the Red Cross from visiting Palestinian prisoners is illegal and ordered its cancellation.

The missions noted the expansion of administrative detention by Israeli authorities, stating that more than 9,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including thousands detained without charge or trial.

They mentioned that human rights organizations have described the detention conditions of Palestinians as 'harsh and life-threatening', with lack of food, denial of medical care, and mistreatment.

The missions also expressed grave concern over recent reports about the deteriorating health of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya.

Last Tuesday, lawyer Nasser Odeh quoted Abu Safiya as saying he was beaten by Israeli guards, resulting in an injury to his finger and bleeding.

The Israeli army arrested Abu Safiya on December 27, 2024, during its raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Strip, which he directed, amid Israel's genocidal war on the Strip.

Abu Safiya appeared noticeably thinner compared to his appearance at the time of his arrest, during a video link appearance in a session before an Israeli court on June 10.

The 14 missions stressed that detainees must enjoy their right to be informed of the charges on which any detention is based, their right to access legal assistance, and to receive a fair trial.

About 9,500 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli prisons, including children and women, suffering harsh conditions including starvation, torture, and medical neglect, which have led to the deaths of dozens of them, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights reports.