From the Liveblog of
Friday, December 15, 2023
ICRC chief reportedly refused to take photo with hostages’ families during Tel Aviv meeting
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International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger refused to take a picture with the families of the hostage during their highly charged meeting yesterday in Tel Aviv, Hebrew media reports.
Spoljaric has also pushed back on Israeli calls to publicly pressure Hamas to allow for Red Cross visits of the hostages, arguing that the terror group won’t be moved and that taking such steps risks her agency losing its influence to operate in such conflict.
It’s unclear why she refused the photograph if she took one with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that same day.
The hostages’ families have rejected the Red Cross’s arguments outright, saying the ICRC is failing to do its job, refusing to make an effort to at least get medicine transferred to their loved ones and only willing to criticize the Israeli government.
During their meeting, one of the fathers of the hostages got up from his chair and demanded that Spoljaric take his son’s inhaler and ensure that he receives it. The Red Cross chair uncomfortably tried to explain why she didn’t have the power to heed the request but the father refused to accept her argument.
The Times of Israel Community.