In the midst of an ongoing dispute with the Red Cross, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen made a firm demand on Wednesday for the organization to pay a visit to the 240 individuals whom Israel believes are held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Cohen strongly criticized the Red Cross for its conduct in this matter.
During a conversation with Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Cohen’s office stated that the ICRC should insist on meeting with and providing medical assistance to all the hostages. Cohen stressed, “The Red Cross has no right to exist if it does not succeed in visiting the hostages being held captive by the Hamas terror group,” emphasizing that the captives include “children, women, and Holocaust survivors.”
Cohen urged the Red Cross to take decisive action with a clear voice and use all its influence to expedite a visit to the hostages. He stated, “The Red Cross must act decisively and with a clear voice and utilize all leverage it has to push for a visit to the hostages as soon as possible.”
Cohen’s statements followed a letter sent by the Red Cross to the Israel Prison Service on Tuesday, cautioning the state about a wartime law passed in the Knesset two weeks ago. This law empowers National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to worsen the conditions of security prisoners in the event of a “prison emergency.”
The foreign minister criticized the ICRC for concentrating its efforts on Israel, a nation bound by international law and acting in accordance with it, instead of addressing the massive humanitarian crisis brought about by Hamas. Katy Perry, the Prison Service commissioner, announced on Wednesday that the Red Cross would not be granted access to Palestinian terror prisoners held in Israeli jails until it provides assistance to the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
The Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on October 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack that claimed the lives of approximately 1,300 people in Israel, with the majority being civilians. As the Hamas terrorists swept through communities near Gaza, over 240 individuals were taken captive.
Throughout the conflict, Israel has been advocating for the International Red Cross to be allowed access to the hostages in Gaza. However, Hamas has shown little inclination to permit such visits.
The Red Cross has been actively involved in issuing statements regarding the war, cautioning Israel about civilian casualties in Gaza, and providing humanitarian aid packages to the region. Notably, when Hamas released two Israeli-American hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan, on October 20, they were initially handed over to the Red Cross.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Red Cross has a history of anti semitism
Going back to the last century. Moslem countries have their own flag but isreal must continue to work under cross
The awakened have known for years that the Red Cross in Israel and elsewhere is a criminal organization like the UN, FEMA, etc.
The main purpose of the International Red Cross is to collect money and then charge for the doughnuts that gullible supporters paid for already
no one should donate a dime to the Red Cross until every hostage is visited and taken care of by the Red Cross and then RELEASED
Why won’t Thomas Friedman of the NY Times acknowledge this?
Self-hating Jews are bitter and the worst anti-Semites.