CBN NEWS
MARCH 24, 2011 - THURSDAY
JERUSALEM, Israel -- Hamas officials are praising Wednesday's deadly bombing of a bus station in Jerusalem -- a city they've vowed to conquer.
Jerusalem is also a place where wanted Hamas members have found safe haven from Israeli authorities -- and they're getting help from one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations.
Although Hamas's main headquarters can be found in Gaza and Damascus, over the past several months, three officials from the terror group have also set up shop at the International Red Cross office in East Jerusalem.
Israel suspects these three Hamas legislators had a role in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. It ordered them to be deported from Jerusalem last summer.
Instead, the three found refuge at the Red Cross, where they've set up a tent and held court on a daily basis, with no protest from their hosts.
The three Hamas officials have been living there since July. During that time, they've held a number of press conferences and met with foreign dignitaries, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Every Friday, dozens of East Jerusalem residents gather at the Red Cross to hold prayers as a show of support.
CBN News spoke exclusively Muhammed Totah, one the three Hamas officials, who denied involvement in Shalit's kidnapping, but refused to recognize Israel's right to exist.
"The Israelis have come in 1948 to our historical Palestine," Totah told CBN News. "They have occupied 78 percent of our land. And in 1967 they have occupied the other 22 percent."
Red Cross spokesperson Cecilia Goin told CBN News that hosting the wanted Hamas officials is in line with the organization's humanitarian mission -- despite Hamas' long track record of terrorism.
"Under international humanitarian law, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory," Goin said. "So the Palestinians living in East Jerusalem are considered protected people."
Goin, who refers to Israel as an "occupying power" in East Jerusalem, said politics are not involved in the Red Cross's decision. CBN News Senior Editor John Waage, who's long analyzed the Middle East, believes otherwise.
"I think it's a thinly veiled, in your face statement to Israel that East Jerusalem is part of a future Palestinian state," Waage said.
"The Red Cross has asked repeatedly to see Gilad Shalit," he added. "They've never been allowed to see him, and yet at the same time, they're housing three members of Hamas."
i am aware that as far back as 2005 there was talk about the International Red Cross having a "neutral" symbol; and that Israel had considered wanting to join this organization. Dear Israel, I would never want to see the Shield of David inside any logo that supports the very terrorists who are holding Gilad Shalt captive! This is not neutrality, this is "In-your-face" anti-Semitism.
The Red Cross said it will not prevent Israeli authorities from arresting the Hamas officials. The Israeli government had no comment on the situation.
MARCH 24, 2011 - THURSDAY
JERUSALEM, Israel -- Hamas officials are praising Wednesday's deadly bombing of a bus station in Jerusalem -- a city they've vowed to conquer.
Jerusalem is also a place where wanted Hamas members have found safe haven from Israeli authorities -- and they're getting help from one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations.
Although Hamas's main headquarters can be found in Gaza and Damascus, over the past several months, three officials from the terror group have also set up shop at the International Red Cross office in East Jerusalem.
Israel suspects these three Hamas legislators had a role in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. It ordered them to be deported from Jerusalem last summer.
Instead, the three found refuge at the Red Cross, where they've set up a tent and held court on a daily basis, with no protest from their hosts.
The three Hamas officials have been living there since July. During that time, they've held a number of press conferences and met with foreign dignitaries, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Every Friday, dozens of East Jerusalem residents gather at the Red Cross to hold prayers as a show of support.
CBN News spoke exclusively Muhammed Totah, one the three Hamas officials, who denied involvement in Shalit's kidnapping, but refused to recognize Israel's right to exist.
"The Israelis have come in 1948 to our historical Palestine," Totah told CBN News. "They have occupied 78 percent of our land. And in 1967 they have occupied the other 22 percent."
Red Cross spokesperson Cecilia Goin told CBN News that hosting the wanted Hamas officials is in line with the organization's humanitarian mission -- despite Hamas' long track record of terrorism.
"Under international humanitarian law, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory," Goin said. "So the Palestinians living in East Jerusalem are considered protected people."
Goin, who refers to Israel as an "occupying power" in East Jerusalem, said politics are not involved in the Red Cross's decision. CBN News Senior Editor John Waage, who's long analyzed the Middle East, believes otherwise.
"I think it's a thinly veiled, in your face statement to Israel that East Jerusalem is part of a future Palestinian state," Waage said.
"The Red Cross has asked repeatedly to see Gilad Shalit," he added. "They've never been allowed to see him, and yet at the same time, they're housing three members of Hamas."
i am aware that as far back as 2005 there was talk about the International Red Cross having a "neutral" symbol; and that Israel had considered wanting to join this organization. Dear Israel, I would never want to see the Shield of David inside any logo that supports the very terrorists who are holding Gilad Shalt captive! This is not neutrality, this is "In-your-face" anti-Semitism.
The Red Cross said it will not prevent Israeli authorities from arresting the Hamas officials. The Israeli government had no comment on the situation.
_____________________________
TO: WASHINGTON, DC - ALL MEMBERS OF BOTH THE HOUSE AND CONGRESS
CC: THE STATE OF ISRAEL
RE: THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
FROM: REAL AMERICANS
I believe the American Red Cross ignores International Law.
Secondly, there are legal penalties of supporting the BDS actions against Israel and while that is not the case with the American Red Cross, I know that all the lawyers and Federal Government could take issue with the Red Cross for supporting a KNOWN terrorist organization, since HAMAS is listed on the FBI's list of terrorists (and I'm sure Homeland Security has the same list of terrorist groups/organizations).
The American Red Cross has NOT been allowed to see Israel's kidnapped solider, Gilad in the FIVE years of his capture, and yet, they take sides and support HAMAS??!!
Please look into this matter as soon as possible and in the mean time, this is being published on Real Americans to notify and inform all readers that the American Red Cross, an organization that is to remain neutral, is not neutral and I will no longer donate funds to an organization that allows terrorists under their tent.
Oh, and if anyone says the "American" Red Cross is not the same organization as the "International" Red Cross, you had better get out your paperwork to show how these two organizations are separate, as Americans would like to know exactly who and what they are contributing to, before making donations.
And here's a footnote: If I were Israel, knowing that Hamas is involved in the terrorist attack in Jerusalem, (which Debka reports involves 3 to 5 terrorists) yesterday, my guess is that 3 of the 5 terrorists involved in this latest act could be found under the American Red Cross tent.
See:
