Red Cross goes “political” over security fence
The Red Cross played a controversial “political” gambit yesterday in chastising Israel for breaching international human rights with the continued construction of its contentious security fence in the West Bank.
The Geneva-based humanitarian body – which normally stays politically neutral – released a statement saying the fence exceeded the rights of an occupying power and was harmful to the well being of Palestinian dwellers.
It called on Israel “not to plan, construct or maintain this barrier within occupied territory”.
The agency said the path of the barrier had “deviated” from the “Green Line” into occupied territory.
In less than a week, an International Court of Justice hearing in The Hague will address the legality of the fence.
Israel says the security fence is there and will remain there to protect its citizens from suicide bombers.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the 125-mile long barrier had had a severe impact on the lives of Palestinians.
“The ICRC’s opinion is that the West Bank barrier, in as far as the route deviates from the ‘Green Line’ into occupied territory, is contrary to international humanitarian law,” the statement read.
Jonathon Peled, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, told Channel Four News last night: “This announcement unfortunately constitutes a departure from the good relationship and understanding over the years we’ve had with the Red Cross in working together to help the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people.”
A spokesman for the ICRC, Florian Westphal, said the aid agency decided to go public on the issue to highlight the worsening humanitarian situation in the region.
