Iran’s Attack on Israel
11 min read
Demand the humanitarian organization to do its job.
In the depths of World War II, as war engulfed Europe, the International Red Cross (IRC) came to the aid of millions of prisoners held by Germany. The Red Cross helped millions of Allied soldiers languishing in German POW camps - but pointedly refused to press Nazi Germany on access to the concentration camps where millions of Jews were imprisoned and murdered. Today, the Red Cross - officially named “The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement” - is in danger of repeating its mistakes of World War II, as it fails to press for aid to Israeli hostages in Gaza, allows Hamas to shelter in its ambulances and hospitals, and wastes its moral authority by issuing one-sided condemnations that hold Israel to a higher standard than Hamas’ army.
The mission of the Red Cross is “to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield…to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.” It declares itself impartial, neutral, universal and independent.
The organization was founded as a committee of various affiliated medical organizations in Paris in 1919, and has included Christian (Red Cross) and Islamic (Red Crescent) medical organizations for over a century. (The group grew out of the American-founded Red Cross, which dated to 1881.) For over 60 years following Israel’s founding, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement forbade Israel’s Magen David Adom (Red Magen David) organization from formally joining the group. Their opposition was so forceful that in 2001, the director of the American Red Cross, Dr. Bernadine Healy, was forced out of her position after she championed Israel’s membership. “I’d say the Red Cross isn’t a healthy culture,” she said at the time. Magen David Adom finally was allowed to join in 2006, so long as the Palestine Red Crescent Society joined as well as a counterweight.
Many casual observers around the world assume that the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, is somehow apolitical and staffed by foreign, neutral professionals. In fact, it relies on local affiliated organizations to provide service on the ground in conflict zones. In some of the Middle East, that means the de facto Red Cross presence is the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Founded in 1968 by Yasser Arafat’s brother Fathi Arafat, the Palestine Red Crescent Society declares that it “operates in Palestine and the diaspora.” It operates throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Although, as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Palestine Red Crescent Society is duty-bound to help all people within its area of operations, the group has for years refused to give life-saving treatment to Jews who’ve been shot or otherwise injured in terrorist attacks in the West Bank. The group is headed by Mr. Marwan Jilani, the PLO’s former Deputy Permanent Observer to the United Nations and a former minister in the Palestinian Authority.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society is undeniably offering lifesaving aid in Gaza. At times, Hamas has been critical of the organization, accusing it of colluding with Israel in helping to evacuate Palestinian civilians out of the north of Gaza during fierce fighting between Israeli and Hamas forces in Gaza City, when Hamas strenuously tried to get civilians to remain in the battle zone.
Yet the Palestinian Red Crescent Society works alongside Hamas, possibly out of necessity given the iron fist with which Hamas rules the entirety of Gaza. Captured Hamas fighters have described over and over again how Hamas soldiers operate out of Gaza’s hospitals, use Gaza’s ambulances to transport fighters and weapons, and use patients and civilians who seek shelter in hospitals as human shields.
Take Al-Shifa Hospital, which Hamas fighters used as a base as they battled Israeli forces in the first half of November. Prior to the current war, the Palestine Red Crescent Society openly worked “in partnership” with Hamas to upgrade Al Shifa Hospital. It was surely no secret to administrators inside the hospital that Hamas used Al-Shifa as a headquarters, yet throughout the long battles in and around the hospital in November, Red Cross and Red Crescent spokespeople condemned Israel’s actions over and over again - and never Hamas’, remaining silent about the open secret of Hamas’ control of the hospital. Red Crescent personnel brought medical supplies to the hospital and evacuated patients from the hospital throughout battles there, likely coordinating their activities with the hospital’s Hamas controllers. Robert Mardini, the Lebanese-born engineer who serves as Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, demanded that Israel stop its military operations at the hospital immediately, using the authority of his position to condemn Israeli actions as heartless - though never said a word about Hamas’s use of the hospital.
Once Israeli forces succeeded in entering the hospital, it became clear that contrary to Red Cross claims, Al-Shifa had indeed been a military site. Israeli fighters found caches of weapons and tunnels used by Hamas fighters, video footage of Israeli hostages being brought into the hospital, and the body of Yehudit Weiss, a 66-year-old woman kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. A Hamas fighter captured in the hospital confirmed its use as a military base: “doctors were furious because Hamas operatives and operatives of other terror groups were inside the hospital…dressed as nursing staff and other medical staff ‘to blend in with the hospital wards.’” He estimated that about 100 Hamas fighters operated openly in Al-Shifa, especially in the Intensive Care Unit.
Another Hamas employee who’d sheltered at the hospital with his family, Hamuda Riad Asad Shalamah, said he moved his family to the hospital because he considered it “safe and secure” because of the Red Crescent’s presence there. Yet once in the hospital, he realized it operated as a weapons depot for Hamas. “What I saw was how they wrapped the rockets with mattresses and hid them…and also guns.” Hamas showed no concern for the wellbeing of the civilians inside the hospital, he said: if “one of their rockets would explode, it could kill 50 of us, or more.”
Yet the Red Cross has dismissed these claims, as has the Palestinian Red Crescent Society as lies. They have never offered proof that their workers were not present during Hamas’s sustained and extensive activities in medical centers and ambulances in Gaza.
Since the current war began, the Red Cross has provided some real aid and medical help on the ground in Gaza - and also issued lots of statements and sound bites as its leadership take to the airwaves around the world, granting non-stop interviews and issuing statement after statement about the war. Perhaps unsurprisingly given its history, the vast majority of these statements are highly critical of Israel, while it’s vanishingly rare for the Red Cross to criticize Hamas.
Between October 8 and December 11, 2023, 77% of Red Cross tweets were criticizing Israel.
Geneva-based monitoring group UN Watch documented all tweets published by International Red Cross and Red Crescent President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger and Director General Robert Mardini between October 8 and December 11, 2023. Well over three quarters of all tweets - 77% - criticized Israel. Only 7% of tweets were critical of Hamas.
The Jerusalem Institute for Justice has studied the Red Cross’s social media posts. It found that in the days following Hamas brutal attack on Israel, which killed 1,200, injured thousands, and saw 240 Israelis kidnapped, the Red Cross posted “no posts, images, graphics, or videos” about Hamas’ attacks. Instead, the organization has shown a clear double standard in its public relations, criticizing Israel harshly and repeatedly, while largely giving Hamas’ targeting civilians and blatant violations of the rules of war a pass.
Nowhere is the Red Cross’ failure to help Jews as much in evidence as in its sluggish reaction to Hamas’ kidnapping of 240 Israeli hostages. The Red Cross declares that the 3rd Geneva Convention, which lays out rules governing treatment of prisoners during wartime, gives it special powers. “We aim to secure humane treatment for all detainees,” the Red Cross notes on its website. “We visit detainees during armed conflicts and other situations of violence…” Except, it seems, when it comes to the Israelis being held by Hamas, who are experiencing many of the crimes prohibited by the 3rd Geneva Convention, including starvation, physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and the withholding of medical aid.
Take the case of 84-year-old Elma Avraham who was abducted from her home by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Elma’s daughter Tali Amano and her son Uri Rawitz collected all of Elma’s medications and brought them to a meeting with the Red Cross. Amano recalls that the Red Cross official they met refused to take the medications: “They said no, we can’t.” Later on, the family went to the Tel Aviv offices of the Red Cross and tried once again to hand over their mother’s medication. Once again, Red Cross officials refused to take them.
Elma Avraham was finally released on November 26. The great grandmother, who before October 7 had lived independently, was semi-conscious and had to be airlifted to a hospital after her release. “She was abandoned twice,” explained Elma’s daughter: “Once on October 7 and a second time by all the organizations that should have saved her and prevented her condition.”
Under the terms of the November 24 - December 1 truce between Israel and Hamas, the Red Cross was supposed to be granted access to the Israeli and other hostages held by Hamas. Despite the stated aim of the Red Cross to visit the hostages, and despite the many ties forged through previous collaborations between Hamas and Red Crescent Movement, this never happened. The Red Cross’ inactivity now echoes its actions between 2006 and 2011, when it never visited captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held by Hamas in Gaza for five years. It also echoes the Red Cross’ unwillingness to help Jews during the Holocaust, when it declined to jeopardize its relations with Nazi Germany by demanding to visit Jewish prisoners.
Another Israeli hostage who desperately needs medication is Doron Steinbrecher, a 30-year-old veterinary nurse. She takes medicine every day, and her parents Roni and Simona Steinbrecher are desperate to get her this vital medication, as well as to hear news about their daughter’s condition. In December, the Steinbrechers were invited to a meeting with the Red Cross; they assumed the organization would tell them they were trying to visit their daughter and brought her medication to the meeting. Instead, the couple were shocked to be lectured by Red Cross Officials.
Red Cross officials refused to accept Doron’s medication or offer reassurances that they would find out if Doron is still alive, and told his parents, “Think about the Palestinian side.”
Red Cross officials refused to accept Doron’s medication or offer reassurances that they would find out if Doron is still alive, Red Cross officials crossly told her parents: “Think about the Palestinian side. It’s hard for the Palestinians; they’re being bombed.” Doron’s anguished mother told reporters “we left there as we entered: without new information, without something new, and with disappointment.”
It’s time for the Red Cross to do better. A coalition of 50 organizations around the world is circulating a petition calling on the Red Cross to “locate and establish communication with the Israelis held hostage…Call for Hamas to cease its heinous acts of raping and sexually abusing Israelis…Condemn the use of human shields as military targets, including hospitals and schools, and the horrifying practice of exhibiting and mutilating dead bodies (and to) Facilitate the immediate return of the Israeli hostages. Consider adding your voice to this vital petition.
You can contact the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement online here https://www.icrc.org/en/contact or at:
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
19 Avenue de la paix
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
TEl: +41 22 734 60 01
Finally, posting about the hostages helps to keep the issue alive. Use the hashtag #Bringthemhome. Encourage others to reach out to the Red Cross to demand that it do its job.
The dollars are the only thing that the Red Cross listens to. Arab petrodollars speak volumes.
Theresienstadt 2023? Nothing new under the sun. Our children are not taught history.
It should be noted: The Red Cross symbol, often found on the mastheads of blood banks, such as The New York Blood Center and others, shouldn't be misconstrued that the blood banks are associated with the Red Cross.
Don't forget, Switzerland, and the Red Cross which is headquartered there, are both FULL of nazi-sympathizers. In their view 'they are only Jews, who cares?'
I don’t understand how with all the money and power the world attributes to Jews, we seemingly are not using any of it to our advantage. Sure, like thousands of others, I’ve been emailing and calling The Red Cross, The White House, my Senators, University Presidents, etc. Where are those with the power and influence to use it and who is calling on them to do so?
Last week, Biden held a fundraiser in Hollywood. They said at least half of the attendees were Jewish! If we are not going to demand more of those with influence and the money to back it, then we know where this will lead.
The world perceives those of us in the diaspora as weak and cowardly. It’s frankly, humiliating.
So much of the charity donated by American Jews, has always been directed to the Democratic Party and Democratic Party organizations, as well as to a multitude of leftist organizations, nearly all of which today adamantly refuse to condemn the threats, violence against, and murders of Jews by Hamas, "Palestinians, and leftists.
We know this since this infamous and anti jewish group was formed, they used the symbol just for that. They never, ever did something good towards Jewish people in need. Not before the second WW, not during the dark years between 1936 and 1945, NOT even after 1945, oh yeah by making lists of who survived! After 1945 they didn't do anything to help Jews who were expelled from their Arab countries of birth, they gave no help to survivors of the nazi slaughtercamps, they never visited any Israeli who was taken captive by infamous arab themselves pallies calling terrorists, not even a q of 'can we help' after the 7th and 8th of October! They are just the words not worth to mention them.
But Israel stupidly feels it has to impress the corrupt evil world and treats their wounded terrorist prisoners, instead of letting them rot. Like the murderer who came down with a brain tumor while in israeli prison and israel treated and cured him so that when he was freed in a prisoner exchange (sic) he masterminded the October 7 massacre,
Shocking how the Xtians (those who celebrate Xmas) show up as anti Jewish. Have they not learned that the Inquisition was wrong and supporting N. Germany was bad?
Just as HamAss lies to their offspring and calls it education, so do Xtians passing on pagan based pablum regarding winter and spring holidays which they value. Are they also still passing on old stories of how their god died and by whom?
Or is the red cross bought by the CCP (Chinese communist party) who funds Iran and spreads lies with tiktok to propagandize the uninformed to support hamass. Or hate Jews, either one.
Religions are false, God is true. Learn the distinction and lets unite under God. Everybody. The righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come.
Detestable organization
https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/19/us/red-cross-admits-knowing-of-the-holocaust-during-the-war.html
NY Times is a horrible reference as they require a login to read their stuff. Not a free press.
I think it is disgusting of the Red Cross not to support or help the Jewish people. I have been saying for many years that we, the Jewish people have contributed so much to the world and yet we have been denied this appreciation and being treated badly by so many people. You know who your friends are, the true picture shows up.
Following natural disasters, Israel is the first to send aid and technical assistance anywhere in the world. Jews are often at the forefront to fight prejudice and injustice wherever it exist. Yet, despite these examples of Jewish humanity, Israel is continuously castigated by the international press, the United Nations, Universities, the "progressive left" and world leaders. The divestment movement and the unwillingness of university presidents to condemn the call for the "genocide of Jews" are examples of malignant antisemitism and anti Israel sentiment. This is not new, but this remarkable article confirms what was, what is and unfortunately what will be. Regardless of how we are viewed, we as Jews will continue to do what is morally and ethically correct, because we are Jews.
The Magain David Adom is a not by the IRC and the Red stinking Crescent accepted help organzation!
I sent the Hamas loving IRC an email. They need new leadership. Mirjana Egger must be replaced. She was in charge of the (mis)education of Palestinian children. Shame on her. She makes a joke of the IRC mission statement.
Excellent reporting Dr. Yvette Alt Miller.
Shame on you Red Cross!!
You are preaching to the choir. This article needs to be seen by the public in general not only in Jewish circles. We have lost public support because we don’t do a good job in publicly showing what Hamas has consistently been doing through all these years to Israel and the Gaza inhabitants.
You are correct the Red cross has failed to assist the Jewish hostages as it failed to assist during ww2. Never financially support the red cross, vote against them with your wallet!! Support Magen David Adom in Israel and although that does not help the hostages at least it helps those in Israel who are facing terrorist attacks. Anti Semitic is really a deep rot in much of the world. It hurts, it's irrational and it is dangerous!
My father z"l holocaust surviver told his children,us, never donate a penny to the red cross.
“Failing” implies that they were trying and didn’t succeed. Sounds more like the Red Cross has been undermining Israel and the Jews. Or perhaps “screwing” is a more appropriate term here.
Is there any agency above the IRC who it would be helpful to contact?
The IDF failed 3 hostages it killed. If they are so careless, how can we believe they are careful of Gazan lives?
Gazan terrorists often pose as civilians and/or pretend to be surrendering, only to attack and kill once the soldiers are off guard. The behaviour exhibited by the escapees was, sadly, no different from that used by deceitful terrorists and with their faces obscured by overgrown facial hair - similar to the fashion of Hamas - it is little wonder the soldiers shot first and checked later. This was a tragic error, but understandable.
Furthermore, why should the IDF be careful of Gazans - enemies who chose a terrorist leadership? That it is, is testimony to the exceptional moral standards of Israel. There are other wars going on and no other combatants are worrying about civilians being killed by their armies.
GREAT article! The IRC should be dismantled,
would save me a lot of tax money that goes into that IRC sewer system!
Israelis pay nothing to this SORDID IRC organization unless you're living in the EU? Magen Adom is run strictly by donations & some pittons from the Israel Health Ministry.
You need to be more specific - International Red Cross are the dredge of the earth. They are most inept, bogus, and fraudulent so called human assistance agency. Please DON'T confuse the slime IRC with the American Red Cross as there’s very distant relationship. The IRC was asked to deliver desperately needed medication to one of the hostages and they purposely neglected to fulfill the order. I call the IRC. members of the Nazi party as their mentality are duplicate. After the war, after things have come somewhat to an order there should be a committee called to totally dismantle this putrid group and totally new members brought in to make the agency what it was intended to be – helpful
American Red Cross does great work for disaster victims in US
That’s what he pointed out in his comment: the difference between the American and International RCs.
If they are white. In my town, which was mostly white at the time, when we had a flood the Red Cross brought around sandwiches to give to home-owners when they were cleaning up afterwards. They refused to give one to a person of color in the neighborhood, saying they were just for the home-owners, not workers. He was a home owner cleaning his house.
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They should be prosecuted by an international court for their false representation.🤬
If you recall, President Donald Trump upon becoming President pulled out of the UN & URWA as he said they were corrupt. Nikki Halley has stated the same as IRC is part of that corrupt clic. You will need a staunch US President to be able to go up against these highly sordid organizations. Realize they have a good many of the EU countries that would come to their aide as they too are likewise corrupt. They have to be exposed but our demented worthless nat'l & int'l media would be shaking in their boots to publish such honest information.
and biden could hardly wait to restore the funding to unrwa - it was one of his first acts after being sworn in. remember that, next november.