Hostages’ Family Sues Red Cross Over Ignoring Medical Needs of Captives
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by i24 News and Algemeiner Staff
A Red Cross vehicle, as part of a convoy believed to be carrying hostages abducted by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, arrives at the Rafah border, amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, as seen from southern Gaza, Nov. 24, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
i24 News — Raz Ben Ami, 57, a German-Israeli, was released from Hamas’ captivity on Nov. 29. Together with her husband, Ohad Ben Ami, who remains in Gaza, she was kidnapped by terrorists on Oct. 7 from Kibbutz Be’eri.
During their captivity, the family requested the International Red Cross’ (ICRC) assistance in transferring vital medication as Raz Ben Ami is fighting brain tumors, Israeli media reported. The Ben Amis are now suing the organization that they say rejected their inquiries.
Raz Ben Ami speaks about her time as a hostage of Hamas:
“I was in Gaza and they humiliated us…In terms of food, it was one meal a day. There was no such thing as a shower – only cold water that we poured over ourselves. In the bathroom there was no way to flush the toilet… pic.twitter.com/BKBa5vND9S
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 16, 2023
According to the lawsuit, the family appealed to the ICRC representatives in Israel, Germany, and the United States, but received nothing more than an email wishing “reconnecting with their loved ones.”
Shurat HaDin, an Israeli civil rights organization, filed a lawsuit to the Jerusalem District Court accusing the ICRC of not standing up to its responsibilities in its assistance to Hamas’ hostages, namely by not providing the medication it had on hands.
Founder and the President of Shurat HaDin Nitsana Darshan-Leitner stated: “The International Red Cross is reliving its mistakes of the Holocaust, so it abandoned the Jewish people in its darkest period in history. We cannot accept this disregard and disrespect for human life, just because they are Jewish.”
Ohad Ben Ami, 57, and his wife Raz Ben Ami, also 57, were taken hostage from their home in Kibbutz Be’eri.
Raz was released on November 29th, while Ohad remains in captivity.
Ohad’s last message on WhatsApp said, “Shma Yisrael, they’re here.”
A photo of Ohad appeared… pic.twitter.com/eGlhcHFGn1
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) December 14, 2023
“The International Red Cross is simply biased. It operates on a daily basis in Gaza, has no problem accusing Israel of so-called ‘violations,’ while it doesn’t care about those they kidnapped,” she added.
