Israel Bans Red Cross: What Are They Hiding Now?
The New Arab reports Israel has banned the Red Cross from visiting Palestinian detainees deemed 'unlawful combatants'—enabling indefinite detention without charge. This isn't a new strategy; Amnesty International documented similar patterns of access denial and allegations of torture against Palestinian detainees as far back as 1993, long before the current escalation. It's a convenient tactic
when maintaining plausible deniability about conditions behind closed doors. One might wonder what 'security measures' necessitate keeping international observers away from individuals held without due process. This move is straight out of the authoritarian playbook: remove accountability, then act with impunity. Our U.S. representatives, who routinely approve billions in unconditional aid to
Israel—like the $14.3 billion military aid package passed earlier this year (HR 815, 2024)—seem remarkably unconcerned. Perhaps asking questions about the treatment of detainees might jeopardize future campaign contributions, given how many take significant sums from groups like AIPAC. (OpenSecrets.org shows numerous members of Congress receiving six-figure donations.) Clearly, some forms of
'humanitarian concern' are more palatable than others.