Probe clears Red Crescent of claim it refused to treat Jewish victims

After allegations, Red Cross says medics from Palestinian affiliate could not have helped victims of fatal West Bank shooting

The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Monday that an internal probe had cleared staff from its affiliate Palestinian Red Crescent Society of allegations that they had refused to treat Jewish victims of a shooting attack in November of last year.

After the terror attack, which left Rabbi Ya’akov Litman and his 18-year-old son Netanel dead in their car near the settlement of Otniel in the West Bank, claims surfaced that Red Crescent medics had declined to treat them.

Immediately after the shooting, 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 that it had failed to stop to help them.

The International Committee of the Red Cross responded at the time and said it was satisfied that the Red Crescent Society acted “with impartiality.”

Rabbi Ya'akov Litman, who was killed in a terror attack near the West Bank city of Hebron on November 13, 2015. (screen shot: Channel 2) — Rabbi Ya’akov Litman, who was killed in a terror attack near the West Bank city of Hebron on November 13, 2015. (screen shot: Channel 2)

After an investigation into the circumstances, the ICRC concluded the team had been unable to offer any help as the men were already dead.

“A two-person emergency medical team of the PRCS, responding to an emergency call, was the first team to arrive on the scene,” country head Jacques de Maio said in a statement.

18-year-old Netanel Litman, who was killed in a terror attack near Hebron on November 13, 2015. (courtesy)

“None of the survivors required emergency medical assistance and tragically there was nothing more the PRCS team could do for those who had been shot and killed.”

After the Israeli medical services appeared on the scene, the PRCS medics left, he added.

Soon after the claims of neglect had been made, the Red Crescent said in a statement that its paramedics had emerged from their vehicle to aid the wounded, but that an Israeli army ambulance had arrived and soldiers had emerged with guns drawn. The Red Crescent paramedics had then left the scene.

But the driver of the Israeli ambulance who responded to the attack disputed the Palestinian account at the time, 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.