Israel urged to withdraw from Red Crescent site

The international Red Cross tonight called on Israel to pull troops out of Palestinian Red Crescent premises in Nablus.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said the Israeli army had occupied the Red Crescent premises in an operation that began on Tuesday night, blocking the entrance and hindering movement of ambulances, patients and staff.

“This action shows grave disregard by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) for its obligation to respect and protect medical units,” the ICRC said in a statement.

The neutral, Geneva-based agency has repeatedly raised the issue with Israeli authorities since then, it said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society runs emergency medical services and a rehabilitation centre for disabled children from the site, which is “used for strictly humanitarian and medical purposes and which must therefore be kept safe from any form of military action or presence”, the ICRC said.

The PRCS is a member of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and its medical units, which are clearly identified by the red crescent emblem, are entitled to full protection under international humanitarian law.