Red Cross Accuses Israel Of Harassing Aid Workers, Appeals To U.S.
Israeli soldiers look on as Red Cross ambulances pass
WASHINGTON, April 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The International Red Cross on Friday accused Israel of humiliating and harassing aid workers in the West Bank and appealed to the United States for help to deal with the humanitarian situation.
In a rare joint stand, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies enumerated widespread violations of the Geneva Conventions following Israeli incursions in the West Bank.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that useless humiliations are taking place, of the Palestinian [ambulance] drivers, of our delegates on the spot when they come to the checkpoint, warning shots above the cars, cars damaged by the tanks of the Israelis," ICRC Director-General Paul Grossrieder said.
Grossrieder, who has just returned from a mission to the Middle East and the U.S. added, "As one delegate told me, it's not normal that when you try to speak to an Israeli soldier, the answer is shooting."
Dieder Cherpitel, the Federation's secretary-general, protested against the arrests of 28 Palestinian Red Cross workers in the past ten days.
ICRC officials said they were released generally during the night and during a curfew, in an area that was unknown to them.
"They have all been freed now...but normally not in good conditions so they were mistreated," he added, news agencies reported.
Other states had a duty under a provision of the Geneva Conventions to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, the officials insisted.
"We ask, in the name of this article, especially to the United States, that they help us," he said.
Israeli soldiers also systematically shoot at ambulances and medical workers, and often detain medics at checkpoints for hours before they are allowed to respond to a call to help dying and wounded Palestinians.
