As if We Should Care: International Red Cross Says Israel’s Gaza Blockade Breaks Law

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red-crossIn a statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) describes the situation in Gaza as dire, saying the only sustainable solution is a lifting of the blockade.

It says Israel is punishing the whole civilian population of Gaza.

It also urges Hamas movement to allow ICRC delegates to visit a detained Israel soldier Gilad Shalit.

The ICRC, a traditionally neutral organisation, paints a bleak picture of conditions in Gaza: hospitals short of equipment, power cuts lasting hours each day, drinking water unfit for consumption.

“The whole of Gaza’s civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law,” the agency said in the statement.

And the ICRC blames differences between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority for some of Gaza’s shortages.

But the key message from the body which rarely publicly criticises governments is that Israel’s blockade of Gaza must be lifted.

That message is yet another indication of growing international concern over conditions in Gaza – just last week US President Barack Obama called the situation there unsustainable.

{BBC/Matzav.com Newscenter}


11 COMMENTS

  1. and hamas are innocent obviously. Israel aren’t trying to punish the people of gaza. They give them 100’s of thousands of jobs. But since the government there is determined to destroy Israel, we must protect ourselves. And if the people of gaza are in the way, sorry but your country is run by maniacs and we have to protect ourselves. Simple.

  2. Is this the same Red Cross that refused to allow Israel to use a Red ‘Magen David’ in place of a cross for so many years – while allowing a Red Crescent for its Arab member nations?
    Thought so.

  3. Where is the Red Cross when Jews are blown to smithereens??

    You know why that cross is red – b/c of the blood of so many who have been slaughtered in its name!

    Take your cross and stow it!

  4. Am Yisrael is supposed to be an Ohr La’amim. We should hold ourselves to the highest moral and ethical standards. While it may be true that pikuach nefesh requires us to take steps that we don’t want to have to take, we should acknowledge that there is something missing when we cannot fulfill the mission we have vis a vis the world. Additionally, the fact that foods such as potato chips and Coca Cola are including in the blockade (or were until a couple of days ago) shows that security is not the operative concern here.

  5. I am rather confused the situation in gaza is officialy unsustainable, but its been documented that there tunnels in the hundreds that are the size of the holland tunnel in brooklyn, so how could the situation bed unsustainable? and if it is then why is israel to blame, maybe blame the hamas for exploiting the situation in the most perfect way for their own needs, which doesnt really take into consideration the 1.5 million arabs in their midst. And so I guess it it can be assumed that when you bash the jews you are bound to gain friends and support and facts will never be thoroughly checked

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