Red Cross Terror-Prisoner Visits Bill Falls as Haredim Boycott Vote

The Knesset voted down in first reading a bill that would have barred International Committee of the Red Cross representatives from visiting Palestinian security prisoners and terror detainees held by Israel, after Shas and United Torah Judaism lawmakers sat out the vote late Monday. Most Israeli reports, citing Knesset spokesperson text, said 36 MKs supported the proposal, 41 opposed it, and the bill was removed from the agenda for six months; JPost reported the opposition count as 42. Ben-Gvir and the bill's backers argued the measure was needed after Israeli hostages in Gaza were denied Red Cross access. Israel's security legislation should answer Hamas's cruelty firmly while keeping coalition discipline and respect for religious communities intact.