An-Najah News - Nablu - 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement on Wednesday: We have taken note of a recent campaign demanding ICRC action on behalf of Palestinian detainees in Israeli places of detention.

With a pandemic underway, we are all concerned about the welfare of loved ones, particularly those in places of detention. We understand the anxiety of detainees, their families and those who are concerned about their welfare.
COVID-19 poses a huge challenge to detaining authorities, and their duty of care towards detainees remains, despite the difficulties of the situation. As a global approach, we have advised the detention authorities across Israel and the occupied territory to consider reducing the detainees population, and for instance suggested the release of particularly vulnerable detainees in view of the COVID19 crisis.
Having said that, it is the responsibility of the detaining authorities to take appropriate measures and ensure treatment is available in a timely and effective manner for those who may need it.
Our visits to places of detention are continuing in the current challenging circumstances with the aim of ensuring the welfare of detainees. Ensuring families and detainees remain in contact is always one of our key concerns. That is especially true now, while family visits are suspended. As always, we will address any concerns we have in confidential dialogue with the detaining authority.

We understand the anxieties that drove the current campaign to request our action on behalf of Palestinian detainees, and we take it as an opportunity to explain our role and what we are doing to ensure detainees’ welfare. We will continue to be there for detainees and their families, as always
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) .