UK Consulate in Jerusalem X account suspended after highlighting Israel’s abuse of Palestinian detainees

The official X account of the British Consulate General in Jerusalem has been suspended after it published a joint diplomatic statement raising alarm over Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Visitors to the @UKinJerusalem account are now met with a notice reading, “Account suspended.” X states only that it suspends accounts which violate its rules, but the platform has not publicly identified the rule allegedly breached or the content that prompted its action.

Yesterday the consulate published a four-part thread carrying a joint statement from 14 diplomatic missions, including the UK, Canada, the European Union and several European countries.

“Over 9,000 Palestinians are detained in Israeli prisons, including thousands held without charge or trial,” the missions warned, highlighting Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention.

The statement noted that human rights organisations have described conditions inside Israeli detention facilities as “harsh and life-threatening”. Palestinian detainees have faced inadequate food, denial of medical treatment, mistreatment and the continued suspension of family visits.

UK Consulate in Jerusalem X account [X]

They also demanded that Israel provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with immediate access to all prisons and detention centres holding Palestinians. Israel has prevented the organisation from visiting Palestinian detainees since October 2023.

The missions welcomed an Israeli Supreme Court ruling in June which found that the government’s blanket ban on ICRC visits lacked a sufficient legal basis. Despite the ruling, humanitarian organisations say meaningful access has yet to resume.

The statement also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the detained director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital. His lawyer recently reported that Israeli prison guards had severely beaten him and that his health was at serious risk.

The UK Consulate’s account became inaccessible after the thread circulated publicly. The joint statement, however, remained visible through the EU’s diplomatic account and other missions which shared it.

Update: The @UKinJerusalem account was activated later on Monday. No explanation was given for the suspension.