‘Abandoning the Very People It Was Established To Protect’: Red Cross Comes Under Fire After Disturbing Footage Shows Starved Israeli Hostages

The aid organization, which traditionally works to provide aid to hostages during armed conflicts, has not visited the Israelis held captive by Hamas

By: Adam Kredo – The Washington Free Beacon; freebeacon.com

The Red Cross is under fire from GOP lawmakers and officials for failing to advocate on behalf of the remaining Israeli hostages after shocking videos showed two captives, 21-year-old Rom Braslavski and 24-year-old Evyatar David, emaciated and nearly naked.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency phone call Sunday with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) head Julien Lerisson after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad released the videos, which he characterized as “shocking images reminiscent of Nazi crimes.” He pleaded with the Red Cross to come to the aid of the 49 remaining hostages, who have languished in captivity as the international aid group does little to help them secure medical care and food.

Officials in the United States share the outrage. They point to hostage release ceremonies from earlier this year, during which Hamas paraded starving Israeli captives before jeering Gazan mobs. The Red Cross, which boasts of its neutrality, appeared on stage with Hamas terrorists to shake hands and sign paperwork. In most cases, this was the first time Red Cross staff interacted with the captives after years of confinement—despite its core mission to support hostages and prisoners of war.

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‘Abandoning the Very People It Was Established To Protect’: Red Cross Comes Under Fire After Disturbing Footage Shows Starved Israeli Hostages