The International Committee of the Red Cross said that it has found at least fifteen bodies and several children alive but emaciated in a row of shattered houses in Gaza strip and accused Israeli Military of preventing ambulances from reaching the site for four days as reported by the Washington Post. Red Cross has been trying to send the ambulances to the area since Saturday after receiving reports that in Zaytoun in neighborhood south of Gaza city had casualties with dead adults and underfed children.
There was an unusual public statement by the Geneva Headquarters of Red cross calling the episode unacceptable and that Israeli Ministry had failed to meet its obligation under the International Humanitarian Law to care for and evacuate the wounded.
When the rescuers from the Red Cross and the Palestinian Red Crescent arrived at the site they found twelve corpses lying on mattresses in one home along with four children lying next to their dead mothers, they were then rushed to the hospital as they were too weak to stand.
As per the spokesman of the Israeli Defense Force,any serious allegation made against the IDF’s conduct will be investigated properly once the formal complaint is received.
The Red Cross also said that it had to rescue the wounded in donkey carts as there were earthen barriers round the neighborhood which prevented the entrance of ambulance. It also said that Israeli soldiers posted nearby tried to chase away the Red Cross officials away from the site but they refused to leave.
The Red Cross said it was able to remove only three of the bodies and as there was news of more casualties it was trying to negotiate a safe passage.
The Geneva Convention provides that parties to a conflict at all times should without delay take all possible measures to search for and collect the wounded and the sick to protect them against pillage and ill treatment, to ensure their adequate care and to search for the dead and prevent them being despoiled. As per the convention the wounded shall not willfully be left without medical assistance and care.
As per Pierre Wettach, the head of the Red cross for the Israeli and Palestinian delegation said it is a very shocking incident. The Israeli Military must have been aware of the situation but did not assist the wounded.Neither did they made it possible for us or the Palestinian Red Crescent to help the wounded.
As always even this war is taking its toll of the innocent!
This, in spite of hundreds of instances to the contrary. Is M. Wettach a clairvoyant? How can he be so certain of this statement?
The ICRC has a very poor record when it comes to Israel and Jews, particularly when you note that the Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David) insignia had been repeatedly denied the same protected status as the Red Cross and Red Crescent from MDA’s establishment in 1930 until 2006, when the ”Red Crystal” was inaugurated as a third, alternative symbol. On its own, the Red Magen David is STILL not recognized or protected under the Geneva convention, it is protected ONLY if the Red Star of David is surrounded by the ”Red Crystal” (a red square standing on one corner with a white field inside).
Secondly, how is M. Wettach so certain that ”the IDF knew about it”. Does he read the mionds of IDF personnel or does he have a ”direct line” to some higher power?
If the sight of underfed children in any state upsets you, go to the root of the problem: the fact that for months, Hamas has been hijacking relief goods of every description for their own use while the ICRC has not said a single word about it, despite numerous reports from Palestinian NGOs.
Malnutrition is not a state that becomes evident overnight or in a few days.
Thirdly, you can lay off the sarcasm– no one deplores the callous exploitation of women and children by Hamas more than the average Israeli, even if only because we get blamed for it.
Dont you see that you are so blind when it comes to defending IDF ? Show some reason dude !
NO one can deny that what is being done in Gaza is putting the lives of civilians in Danger. IDF could assist these people trough making it possible for the PRCS or ICRC to attend to these casualties at least.
I have never believed that IDF intentionally targeted civilians in a large scale. We see so many mistakes, invividuals errors, human errors, and sometimes personal interventions from IDF soldiers , BUT i think that the main line is TRYING to avoid civilians.
Taking this into considerations, this also doesnt put IDF free of athical and legal responsibilities for its acts, no matter was the intention
Dont u agree with me in this point ?
A question : in 2004-2005 IDF invasion of the west bank , IDF tanks were videoed smashing and destroying PRCS ambulances. Did the crew of that tank get to court or questioned ?