Israel’s Supreme Court has annulled a government ban that prevented representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting Palestinian prisoners. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, stated that by blocking such visits, the government had violated both Israeli and international law. The court ordered the immediate cancellation of the policy.

The restriction had been imposed by Israeli authorities in October 2023, following the start of the Gaza war, and remained in effect for more than two years. Justice Daphne Barak-Erez, in her main opinion, noted that despite repeated opportunities, the government failed to present any valid legal justification for maintaining the ban.

The decision came in response to petitions filed by several human rights organizations, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, HaMoked, and Gisha. The ruling marks a significant legal setback for the government’s wartime policies regarding detainee access.