In light of the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) boycott, the Knesset plenum rejected in its first reading a bill to amend the Prisons Ordinance, Amendment No. 73, which sought to prevent representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross from entering detention facilities and to prohibit the transfer of information to the organization.
The bill was drafted by MKs Galit Distel Atbaryan, Keti Shitrit, and a group of additional lawmakers. Thirty-six MKs voted in favor of the bill, while 41 opposed it, and it was removed from the agenda.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, “Our hostages in Gaza did not receive visits from the Red Cross. I do not expect anything at all from the opposition. Anyone who abstained from voting on this law is voting in favor of the Nukhba terrorists. Arye Deri’s alliance with Ahmad Tibi will not help the haredi public; it harms Israel’s security. This is a correct and important law.”
Before the vote, coalition chairman Ofir Katz urged the Haredi parties to vote for the bill.
“Do not vote against it. Do not harm the security of the State of Israel because of politics. If the law does not pass today, it will not be able to pass at all, and the Nukhba terrorists will receive assistance.”
MKs fight over bill, ushers forced to step in
A physical confrontation broke out in the plenum between Katz and MK Ayman Odeh, and ushers were forced to separate them.
“You are here to serve the Nukhba terrorists against the people of Israel,” Katz said.
“You are a Judeo-Nazi!” Odeh responded, to which Katz shouted, “Terrorist!”
The bill proposed prohibiting representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross from entering prisons and detention facilities operated by the IDF. It also proposed banning the transfer of information about prisoners and detainees to the organization unless approved by the national security minister or the defense minister, as applicable, and subject to security considerations.
The explanatory notes accompanying the bill stated, “In light of the security risk involved in allowing outside parties to enter prisons, it is proposed to stipulate that representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross will not be permitted to enter prisons or detention facilities, as defined in the Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants Law.”