Section The ICRC in Israel, the Occupied Territories and the Autonomous Territories
©ICRC/A. Meier/il-e-00200
Gaza. The ICRC's sub-delegation in Gaza. Women sign up to visit a detained family member.
The ICRC has been permanently present in Israel and the Occupied and Autonomous Territories since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It works towards ensuring the faithful application of and respect for IHL, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilians in times of war and occupation.
The escalation of violence in Gaza since late June 2006 has had serious consequences for the Palestinian population which was already under severe economic strain. Sporadic rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip persist and continue to affect Israeli civilians.
The ICRC continues to call on all parties to observe strictly the provisions of international humanitarian law, in particular regarding the treatment of detainees, the protection of the civilian population and the medical mission.
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Magen David Adom
In Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, the ICRC monitors the situation of the Palestinian civilian population, provides assistance where needed, visits detainees and makes representations to the relevant authorities.
As lead agency in this context, the ICRC coordinates the relief response of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and supports the activities of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Magen David Adom (MDA), both of which were formally admitted to the Movement in June 2006.
Personnel (2006): 261 staff, including 66 expatriates
See also:
International Humanitarian Law: Protection of civilians in armed conflicts
Occupied territory - the legal issues
  Key document Middle East: press briefing with Pierre Krähenbühl, ICRC director of operations
In a press briefing held in Geneva Wednesday 19 July, ICRC director of operations Pierre Krähenbühl reminded all parties to the conflict of their obligation to respect the principle of proportionality in all military operations, so as to prevent unnecessary suffering among the civilian population. Speaking notes from the press briefing.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa) | 19-7-2006
Press briefing
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Israel/Palestinian territories: ICRC activities January to May 2006
The ICRC has worked in Israel, the Occupied and Autonomous Territories for almost 40 years, striving to ensure respect for the provisions of international humanitarian law; update on its work during the first five months of 2006.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 19-7-2006
Operational update
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Middle East: ICRC voices serious concern amid worsening violence
In light of the worsening situation in the Middle East where civilian casualties continue to mount, the ICRC's head of operations for the Middle East and North Africa, Georgios Comninos, talks about the organization's main concerns.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 13-7-2006
Interview
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Gaza: continuing violence increases hardship
The situation in the Gaza strip remains tense with the escalation of violence having a serious impact on the population there. In particular, restrictions of movement and the shortage of electricity following the destruction of Gaza's only power plant are having serious consequences. The ICRC's head of sub-delegation in Gaza, Giorgios Georgantas, gave this interview.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Palestine) | 7-7-2006
Interview
Includes Photo |
Israel's Magen David Adom society: key facts on ICRC support
The ICRC is supporting activities of the Magen David Adom (MDA) in key areas including health and emergency response and restoring family links. It is also helping the MDA play a broader role in the Movement's work.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 22-2-2005
Includes Photo |
Field newsletter An overview of ICRC protection activities
An interview with Laetitia de Radiguès, head of the ICRC Protection programme in the West Bank and Gaza Strip - extract of ICRC Delegation Newsletter, December 2005
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 31-12-2005
Field newsletter
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International Review of the Red Cross Interview Official Statement "The ICRC will strive for full respect for humanitarian law..."
Statement by Mr Jacques Forster, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to the 5th Middle East and North Africa Conference of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, Marrakech, Morocco, 15-18 May 2006
(ICRC Activities\Cooperation with National Societies) | 18-5-2006
Official Statement
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Operational update Press article "The Palestinians’ hardship is increasing"
Aid organizations can step up their assistance for the Palestinian people, but they cannot take the place of the authorities, warns the ICRC director of operations. Pierre Krähenbühl was interviewed by Marlène Schnieper.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 29-4-2006
Press article
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Press briefing Israel and the Palestinian territories - press conference
Pierre Krähenbühl, the ICRC's director of operations, has recently completed a one-week visit to Israel and the Occupied and Autonomous Palestinian Territories. The objective was to gain deeper insight into the situation there and to review the ICRC's activities. The following is a transcript of what he said during the press conference on 10 April 2006.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 11-4-2006
Press briefing
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Stories from the field Gaza: turning the power back on
ICRC delegate, Dejan Ivkov, describes how he and two colleagues escorted engineers to restore the electricity supply to thousands of Gaza residents and got caught in crossfire during an evacuation that came to naught.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Palestine) | 12-7-2006
Stories from the field
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West Bank: generating income for those affected by the Barrier
Many families have seen their livelihoods greatly reduced as a result of Israel's erection of the West Bank Barrier, with access to jobs and farmland severely restricted. To soften the blow, the ICRC assists people with projects to increase their income generating potential.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 12-6-2006
Stories from the field
Includes Photo |
West Bank: ICRC rehabilitates Beit Ummar vegetable market
The Palestinian village of Beit Ummar near the West Bank town of Hebron is proud of its newly rehabilitated vegetable market. After almost 6 years of closure, the "souk al khodar al markazi", the central vegetable market, will reopen this spring and become a lively place of exchange for farmers and their customers.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Palestine) | 20-5-2006
Stories from the field
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The West Bank Barrier: the humanitarian impact on communities
Since its completion in February 2003, the West Bank Barrier has deprived thousands of Palestinians of adequate access to emergency services as well as to traditional sources of income. The story of Palestinian farmer, Mustafa Amarneh, illustrates the problems faced by the affected communities.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Israel) | 6-4-2006
Stories from the field
Includes Photo |
Gaza Strip: economic support for fishermen in al-Mawasi
During the summer 2005, the ICRC conducted a field survey to assess the needs of fishermen in Gaza who had suffered from severe restrictions on access to the sea.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Palestine) | 9-3-2006
Stories from the field
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Other site Magen David Adom
(Info resources\Other sites\Red Cross and Red Crescent) | 22-6-2006
Other site
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