Rode Kruis wil Shalit bezoeken in Gaza

Beter laat dan nooit. Na drie jaar veroordeelt het Rode Kruis eindelijk publiekelijk het feit dat Shalit nooit bezoek heeft mogen ontvangen, niks bekend is over zijn medische en psychische toestand en ook het Rode Kruis altijd de toegang is geweigerd. De verklaring is, gezien deze feiten, nog mild opgesteld. Hamas zal zich er waarschijnlijk niet veel van aantrekken maar het vestigt de aandacht even op een zaak die doorgaans genegeerd wordt wanneer het over Gaza en de grensafsluitingen gaat.

De vrijlating van Shalit door Hamas zou wonderen doen voor open grenzen en dus voor de bevolking van Gaza, maar daar wordt Hamas om een of andere reden nooit toe opgeroepen.

 

RP

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ICRC to Hamas: Let us visit Schalit

Jun. 18, 2009
Itamar Sharon , THE JERUSALEM POST

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) criticized Hamas on Thursday for its continued refusal to allow the organization's representatives to visit captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, as well as its refusal to allow him contact with his family throughout three years of captivity.

In a statement issued Thursday, the ICRC stated: "Since [Gilad Schalit's] capture in June 2006, the ICRC has repeatedly asked Hamas to allow the exchange of Red Cross messages between Gilad Schalit and his family. The most recent requests were made at the highest level, but these and all others have been refused."

"Repeated requests by the ICRC to visit Gilad Shalit to ascertain his conditions of detention and treatment have also been refused," the organization said.

"We welcome the fact that yesterday former US president Jimmy Carter handed Hamas a letter from Gilad Schalit's family to him," said Béatrice Mégevand-Roggo, the ICRC's head of operations for the Middle East and North Africa. "However, this cannot replace the regular and unconditional contacts with his family that Gilad Schalit is entitled to under international humanitarian law. The ICRC regrets that in his case political considerations are judged more important than the simple humanitarian gesture of allowing a captive to be in touch with his family after three years of separation."

Mégevand-Roggo added that the people holding Schalit were entirely responsible for ensuring that his treatment and living conditions are humane and dignified.

In its statement, the ICRC said that it has held several meetings with Schalit's parents, Noam and Aviva, to brief them on its efforts regarding their 22-year-old son.

"We share their concerns. Despite the lack of progress so far we will continue to press for family contacts for [Schalit] and for ICRC access to him," said Mégevand-Roggo.

 

This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1245184867207&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull