Author:
Publication: I24News.tv
Date: December 21, 2023
URL:   https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/1703149165-hostages-family-sues-red-cross-over-ignoring-medical-needs-of-captives?s=03

According to the lawsuit, the ICRC rejected family's request to transfer medication to Raz Ben Ami, who is reportedly fighting brain tumors

Raz Ben Ami, 57, a German-Israeli hostage who was released after 54 days in Hamas captivity on November 29. Raz was kidnapped along with her husband, Ohad, who remains in Gaza, from their home in Kibbutz Be'eri.

During their captivity, the family requested assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in transferring vital medication, as Raz is fighting brain tumors, Israeli media reported. The Ben Amis are now suing the organization that they say rejected their inquiries.

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Aviva Klompas @AvivaKlompas

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 leading to terrible diseases.

They humiliated me that I was filthy while they were clean. They didn't let us sit on their sofa because we were dirty.

This is daily humiliation, mentally and physically. I don't think any Israeli held there should have to undergo these humiliations. We don't deserve this."

Video - https://twitter.com/i/status/1736098299856265565

Dec 17, 2023
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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 them luck "reconnecting with their loved ones."

Shurat HaDin, an Israeli civil rights organization, filed a lawsuit in the Jerusalem District Court accusing the ICRC of not standing up to its responsibilities in assisting Hamas hostages, namely by not providing the medication it had on hand.

Founder and president of Shurat HaDin, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, stated: "The International Red Cross is reliving its mistakes of the Holocaust, when 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."

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Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig

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 on social media two weeks later, showing him in a T-shirt and underwear, being pulled by his shirt by a militant. 

Bring them all home now.

Dec 14, 2023
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