2023-10-10 11:15:00
Amid the devastating violence – premeditated killing of civilians and bombings in residential neighborhoods – a worrying sign is that few calls have been heard to de-escalate the situation. In our experience, heightening the rhetoric of war means greater suffering for civilians.
The ICRC, which has maintained a permanent presence in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967, has long observed that the devastating murder of civilians provokes spirals of violence and hatred.
Without immediate restraint on violence, we are headed for a humanitarian disaster.
Civilians always pay the highest price in conflicts. At this critical moment, we urge the parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and to take all possible measures to prevent further harm to civilians. All parties must restrain themselves and protect the lives and property of civilians.
The Geneva Conventions prohibit the killing of civilians and ill-treatment. In addition, they establish that care must be provided to the wounded and sick. Detainees must receive humane and dignified treatment. Hostage-taking is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and hostages must be released immediately and unharmed.
Critical infrastructure on which people’s lives depend, including water and electricity supply networks, must not be targeted. Regardless of any military siege, the authorities must take all necessary measures so that the population can meet their basic needs, in particular access to drinking water, food and medical care.
I am extremely concerned about the suffering that families who have lost contact with some of their loved ones are going through. Your situation is devastating.
We are prepared to do everything in our power to help, including our role as a neutral intermediary. Humanitarian personnel must be allowed to move freely to assist people in need. Health facilities and personnel should never be targeted.
Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The ICRC immediately offered humanitarian support to both parties. We are working to help authorities identify people reported missing. We have also delivered medical supplies to a hospital in Gaza.
ICRC teams are working in close coordination with Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Palestine Red Crescent to help injured and sick people and those in need. Some staff of both humanitarian organizations have been victims of violence; Health personnel must be protected at all times.
The ICRC is ready to help reunite separated family members, trace the whereabouts of people reported missing and evacuate the injured in coordination with the Palestinian Red Crescent and Magen David Adom.
The ICRC has contacted all parties to remind them of their obligations and responsibilities under international humanitarian law. We are in permanent communication with them to coordinate our access and humanitarian response.
About the ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, impartial and independent organization with an exclusively humanitarian mission established in the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It helps people affected by armed conflicts and other situations of violence around the world, doing everything possible to protect their lives and dignity, and to alleviate their suffering, often together with their Red Cross and Red Crescent partners.
The ICRC has been present in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967, including the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We maintain frequent dialogue with all competent authorities to promote international humanitarian law. Some of the activities we carry out include visiting detainees, reuniting separated family members, supporting livelihoods and helping to improve access to essential services such as water and electricity. We work with the Palestinian Red Crescent and Magen David Adom.
Media Contacts:
Jessica Moussan, CICR Dubai, jmoussan@icrc.org+971 504 254 091
Names Trabelsi, CICR Beirut, itrabelsi@icrc.org+961 313 83 53
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