Media coverage
Sawa News Agency · 2022-11-23
PalThink for Strategic Studies held a dialogue session with the head of the ICRC delegation in Gaza, Maryem Muller, as part of the "PalThink Academy for Democracy and Human Rights" project, with the participation of more than 50 students, graduates, and activists. The discussion addressed the ICRC’s role in the occupied Palestinian territory, including visits to detainees, support for vital services and the health sector, and action during escalations, while Muller emphasized the organization’s commitment to dialogue with all parties in line with international humanitarian law.
PalThink for Strategic Studies held a dialogue session with the head of the ICRC delegation in Gaza, Maryem Muller, as part of the "PalThink Academy for Democracy and Human Rights" project, with the participation of more than 50 students, graduates, and activists. The discussion addressed the ICRC’…
On Monday, PalThink for Strategic Studies held a dialogue session with the Head of the International Committee in the Gaza Strip, Ms. “Miriam Muller,” to discuss the work of the Red Cross in the occupied Palestinian territory and its role in alleviating the suffering of Palestinians. This came as part of the activities and events of the project “PalThink Academy for Democracy and Human Rights,” implemented by PalThink in partnership with the German Institute for Foreign Relations.
The session, attended by more than 50 participants including students, graduates, and activists, came within the framework of PalThink’s tireless efforts to lift the cultural and intellectual isolation imposed on young people in the Gaza Strip.
The session was opened and moderated by PalThink Director Omar Shaban, who welcomed the attendees and emphasized his institution’s role in raising the awareness of young people who suffer from the blockade and the inability to travel, through holding meetings that bring them together with prominent international figures, something universities do not provide for them. He added that PalThink maintains ongoing communication with the Red Cross, which he considered one of the international organizations most respectful of Palestinians’ rights.
For her part, Muller thanked PalThink for hosting her and expressed her happiness at meeting this group of young people to hear their questions, orientations, aspirations, and problems. She said that she follows PalThink’s work, programs, and activities on a continuous basis.
She said that the Red Cross was founded in 1863 by the Swiss businessman “Henry Dunant,” before there were humanitarian organizations in the world operating in their current form. She pointed out that she had undertaken assignments with the Red Cross in many countries in the region experiencing armed conflicts, including Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
She noted that the work of the Red Cross is based on providing humanitarian assistance, not taking sides with any party to the conflict, and working to persuade the parties to make room for humanitarian action through direct, non-public dialogue, in order to strengthen respect for and implementation of the principles of international humanitarian law, and to maintain communication with them to urge them to respect international law under the Geneva Conventions.
She said that the Red Cross works with all categories of Palestinians, such as farmers and others, to strengthen their steadfastness by improving vital services such as electricity, water, and sanitation.
She said that the aspect of the Red Cross’s work that resonates most is visiting detainees in Israeli and Palestinian prisons, where the Red Cross focuses its attention on the detainees themselves by visiting them individually inside detention centers in a manner that preserves the confidentiality and privacy of their statements. The International Committee’s team also visits detainees collectively to listen to them and verify their needs, such as communicating with their families or obtaining the necessary health care in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law.
She noted that in cases of hunger strike, the Red Cross works to ensure that the detainee and his family are informed of his health condition and the circumstances of his decision to go on hunger strike. A Red Cross doctor also accompanies the visiting team, and his task is to assess the detainee’s health condition and inform the authorities of the procedures that must be followed in this regard.
The attendees directed several questions to Muller concerning the role of the Red Cross during repeated escalations. She said that the Red Cross had worked effectively during last August’s escalation, as its team visited Al-Shifa Hospital to assess needs, and during the escalation it provided a number of medical supplies needed by the most seriously injured.
She said that the Red Cross, in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, worked to provide limited financial assistance to those who lost their homes so they could rent houses, in addition to household items and personal hygiene supplies, as well as to owners of damaged businesses, in coordination with all other parties active in humanitarian work.
When asked about the Red Cross’s position on the Israeli authorities’ restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement, Muller said that freedom of movement is one of the most important issues affected by the closure, and that the Red Cross remains in continuous contact with the relevant authorities to work to mitigate its humanitarian impact.
The attendees spoke about the importance of the Red Cross providing administrative, technical, and technological support to institutions in the Gaza Strip, in addition to addressing the shortage of medical supplies. Muller pointed out that the health crisis in the Strip is a long-term and complex crisis, but that the Red Cross works to provide the required medical supplies and equipment and deliver them to the medical authorities as much as possible, while continually raising the issue for discussion with the various parties, in addition to providing hospitals with support in the areas of infrastructure and capacity building.
Muller concluded her remarks by saying that the challenges facing the people of Gaza, especially the youth, are very great, and that the steadfastness and resilience of the youth are extremely inspiring and deeply admirable.
Text © Sawa News Agency — archived here with attribution to the source. — Machine translation for archival reference. — Original source