ICRC Accuses Israel of Violating Geneva Convention

The International Committee of the Red Cross accused on Monday Israel of breaching the Geneva convention on protection of civilians in times of war, in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"Our work, our raison d'etre since 1967 is precisely to observe the respect by the Israeli authorities of the 4th Geneva convention provisions," said in a press conference in Amman ICRC general director Paul Grossrieder who added "it is clear there are numerous violations."

Grossrieder who is on tour to Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt cited as examples of these violations the settlements and the destruction of Palestinian houses, before insisting on the need to allow the ICRC visit Palestinian prisoners and guaranteeing free passage to ambulances carrying wounded persons to hospitals.

He also noted that the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is worse than 14 years ago when he visited the territories as ICRC delegate.