Michael Ellis likens ICRC mistakes in Gaza to Germany in 1939

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       The man who used to be the Government's most senior lawyer has questioned whether British taxpayers' should continue to fund the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) accusing it of abandoning Jewish hostages taken by Hamas terrorists.

       Sir Michael Ellis, the former Attorney General, has made a powerful intervention in Parliament warning that the Red Cross has repeated its terrible policy of the 1930s and 1940s when it decided to ignore the persecution of Jews by the Nazis and turned a blind eye to the death camps.

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       The allegations regarding dealing with Hamas have been denied by the ICRC but reflect claims being made by the Israeli government.

       Speaking in the Commons under Parliamentary privilege, Sir Michael said: "It would be remiss of me not to reflect on the strong criticism that it (ICRC) has faced in recent months for its abject failure to access the hostages—then, more than 200—who have been cruelly held by Hamas in unimaginable conditions."

       Reflecting on the charity's shameful past, he went on: "We should not forget that in 1939 the president of the ICRC approached the German Red Cross to arrange for visitation with Jews deported to Poland, and he was met with a refusal by the Nazi German authorities. From then on in World War Two, the ICRC opted for a strategy of no longer addressing the question of Jews directly.

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       "We all know the tragic consequences of that decision, for which the ICRC has—or had—retrospectively apologised, and rightly so."

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       Sir Michael Ellis has questioned the role of the ICRC in the Commons (Image: Getty)

       But he noted that continued support after the Second World War had been linked to a recognition of its failures with the Nazis and now the same policy appeared to be applied to Jews again.

       He told MPs: "Following that apology, His Majesty’s Government, and other Governments around the world, have supported the International Committee of the Red Cross with British taxpayers’ money, and have done so for years.

       "But today families in the United Kingdom—and there are families in the United Kingdom whose relatives are being held hostage—as well as families from Israel and around the world whose loved ones have been missing now for almost five months, understand the history of the Red Cross as it relates to the Nazis in world war two, for obvious reasons, and it is painful.

       "As a consequence, this most recent failure by the ICRC will never be understood and is likely, I am sorry to say, never to be forgiven."

       He was also unhappy with the response Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received from the charity.

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       Sir Michael noted: "When questioned about that by the Prime Minister of Israel, the ICRC president, Spoljaric Egger, said that applying pressure to Hamas 'is not going to work'.

       "As can be imagined, that is inconceivably frustrating for Israel’s leadership and for Jewish people around the world, particularly in this country.

       "Israel’s Foreign Minister at the time, Eli Cohen, said that the Red Cross had no right to exist if it could not reach the hostages, determine their condition and provide them with medical treatment and medications. He added: 'Every day that passes is another failure for the Red Cross.'"

       But Sir Michael warned the ICRC's attitude to victims of Hamas was even worse.

       He said: "Even more shocking was a meeting with hostage families. Someone from the ICRC went to meet hostage families, and the Red Cross responded to pleas to deliver medication to the hostages with reprimands of the hostage families, telling them to think about the Palestinians. Imagine saying to a recent rape victim, 'Can you think about others?'"

       Sir Michael also emphasised that there was clearly bias with the Red Cross against Israel and its victims of the October 7 terror attack as could be seen on its social media accounts.

       He said: "In the circumstances, perhaps it is not surprising that a reported mathematical breakdown of the ICRC’s statements on social media showed that 77% of them solely condemn Israel, while only 7% solely condemn Hamas—an 11 times difference, which surely points to a worrying trend towards political bias in the ICRC.

       "Bearing in mind its second world war history, that is deeply shaming. Criticism of the organisation is mounting across the world, as well as in Israel. Near-weekly rallies have taken place outside the ICRC offices in the United States since 7 October to demand that the Red Cross meets individuals in the Gaza strip."

       Sir Michael made it clear that the UK Government should now think again about giving the Red Cross British taxpayers' money.

       He told the House: "We are asking His Majesty’s Government for taxpayers’ money to go to the ICRC. We should take the demands about the hostages held by Hamas seriously and urgently, because it is the ICRC’s distinguished reputation that I am talking about now.

       "This issue has led to deep-seated feelings of frustration and disappointment. I will conclude by saying that I am sure that His Majesty’s Treasury and His Majesty’s Ministers in the Treasury will think carefully, as they always do—I know that they will—about spending taxpayers’ money."

       However, the ICRC has hit back at Sir Michael's allegations.

       A spokesman for the ICRC said: “The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is acutely aware that families and friends of the hostages are enduring a daily nightmare that can only be brought to an end with their release. Our hearts go out to them and we want them to know that the hostages’ plight is of the utmost importance to us.

       “Taking hostages is prohibited under international humanitarian law, also known as the rules of war. We have said this continuously since October 7. The ICRC has also repeatedly called for the immediate release of all hostages in multiple public statements and in global media interviews, including here in the UK.

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       “In addition, we have repeatedly called for access to the hostages so we can check on their well-being, deliver any medicines they may need, and allow them to exchange messages with loved ones. We have not yet had access to the hostages, which is a source of deep frustration for the ICRC, but we are pursuing every avenue available to us to help them. Behind closed doors, we are talking constantly to those with diplomatic influence in the region, directly to Hamas and also to Israeli authorities. We will continue in this endeavour for as long as it takes. While we wish we had the power to make the decisions and create the conditions for our access to materialize, we do not. For this to occur, all parties need to reach an agreement.

       “Over several days in November, the ICRC helped to facilitate the release of more than 100 hostages in our role as a neutral intermediary. We are thankful that we could help, but are aware that it is not enough.”

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