In the Middle East, humanitarian workers denounce “flagrant” violations of the “rules” of war
Violations “evident” of the “norms” The risks of war in the Middle East conflict are setting a dangerous precedent, humanitarian workers in the region warn, Palestinian Red Crescent vice-president Marwan Jilani told Agence France-Presse. “The rules of war are being blatantly violated” that this “sets a precedent that we have not seen in any other conflict”he judged.
Speaking last week in Geneva at a meeting of the 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, Mr Jilani denounced this “complete contempt” by international humanitarian law since the deadly Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023 and the Israeli response.
The Palestinian Red Crescent has more than 900 employees and several thousand volunteers in Gaza. “They are part of the community. They have been moved many times”Mr. Jilani said, adding: “I think every one of our staff members has lost family members. » In particular, he denounces the “Deliberate attack on the health sector”. Accusations that Israel rejects, claiming to carry out its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon respecting international law.
But according to Mr. Jilani, “lots of staff” of the Palestinian Red Crescent, “including doctors and nurses, were detained, taken away for weeks and tortured”. Since the start of the war in Gaza, 34 Palestinian Red Crescent employees and volunteers have been killed in the enclave and two others in the West Bank. “most during their service”declared. Four other staff members remain detained and their fate is unknown.
