ICRC rejects claim that Red Crescent ambulance ignored terror victims

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday said it is satisfied that the Palestinian Red Crescent Society acts with impartiality, in response to Israeli accusations that a Palestinian ambulance crew ignored Israeli victims of a deadly West Bank terror attack last Friday.

“The ICRC assessment is that the PRCS operates with professionalism and in full respect of the principles of the RCRC [Red Cross Red Crescent] movement, including impartiality,” the Geneva-based humanitarian aid group said in a statement.

“A lot of attention, however, has focused on the alleged failure by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to provide due care to the victims,” the ICRC said, referring to the claims that the dead and wounded members of the Litman family were ignored by the ambulance crew. “Impartiality is the cornerstone of any true humanitarian action, and the ICRC takes very seriously any reports to the contrary.

“The PRCS has immediately provided factual accounts, firmly rejected these allegations, and unequivocally reaffirmed its commitment to impartial response,” the statement continued.

“The attack on the Israeli family in Hebron area on 13 November – as well as others targeting or affecting civilians over the past six weeks – is tragic and unacceptable. Deliberate or indiscriminate attacks against civilians, by whoever, can never be justified.”

On Tuesday evening, Israel Police raided an office belonging the PRCS in East Jerusalem. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri declined to reveal the objective of the raid.

Immediately after the November 13 shooting attack that killed Rabbi Yaakov Litman and his 18-year-old son Netanel, the family’s 16-year-old son called Israel’s emergency service to report the attack. He told the Magen David Adom operator that a Red Crescent ambulance happened to be driving by, but then that it had failed to stop to help them.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations to file an official complaint against the PRCS.

A statement released by the Red Crescent on Friday evening said its paramedics had emerged from their vehicle to aid the wounded, but then an IDF ambulance arrived and soldiers emerged with guns drawn. The Red Crescent paramedics then left the scene, the statement said.

But the driver of the Israeli ambulance who responded to the attack disputed the Palestinian account saying the Palestinian crew never left their vehicle.

An understanding between the Red Crescent and Magen David Adom generally sees the rescue services treat wounded people in their respective territories, and although the attack occurred in a West Bank area under Israeli security control, the Red Crescent is still subject to the regulations of the International Committee of the Red Cross.