Red Crescent in Gaza: Israel targets aid groups to justify its aggression

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has denied Israeli reports that one of its staff members has “been using his position” by transferring patients to Israel to help “terrorist organisations”.

In response to claims by the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, which tweeted that Marwan Abu Rida was an ambulance driver for the humanitarian group who “has been using his position to exploit patients seeking medical treatment in #Israel for terrorist organizations”, the PRCS said it employed no one by that name.

It added that the Red Crescent Society in the besieged Gaza Strip does not transfer patients through the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing into Israel as this is not within its jurisdiction.

In a statement on its website, the PRCS added that the Israeli occupation’s accusations are “a clear targeting of the Association and its humanitarian work and an attempt to justify the continuation of the aggression of the occupation forces on cadres and ambulances operating in the field”.

It went on to reiterate its commitment to “humanitarian principles, especially neutrality and independence”.

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