I wanted to ask the Red Cross

Even before I read the following story, I had been meaning to bring up something regarding the Red Cross.

But first, the story:-

Switzerland says Israel violating international law in Gaza Strip

Switzerland said Monday that Israel has been violating international law in its Gaza offensive by heavy destruction and endangering civilians in acts of collective punishment banned under the Geneva conventions on the conduct of warfare.

"A number of actions by the Israel Defense Forces in their offensive against the Gaza Strip have violated the principle of proportionality and are to be seen as forms of collective punishment, which is forbidden," the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"There is no doubt that Israel has not taken the precautions required of it in international law to protect the civilian population and infrastructure," it said. The statement did not name the Geneva Conventions, but it referred to provisions of the 1949 treaty, which is regarded as the cornerstone of international law on the obligations of warring and occupying powers.

and

"They have criticized us even though we are showing restraint," Aviv Shir-On, Israel's ambassador in Bern, told The Associated Press. "We are disappointed that the Swiss government did not issue such statements when Israel's civilian population was constantly under attack from the Gaza Strip."

Shir-On said the criticism was unfair when Israel was supplying people in Gaza with electricity, water, fresh food and necessary medicine even though Hamas was sworn to the Israel's destruction.

Switzerland also called for the "rapid release" of Shalit, but said Israel had an obligation "to respect international humanitarian law in the measures it undertakes to liberate the captured soldier."

And now, my question:-


Isn't it the task of the Red Cross to visit captured soldiers?

I mean, what are the Red Cross employees doing vis a vis Shalit?


Back in 199, the U.S. made demands of the Red Cross, to wit:-

White House demands Red Cross visit for captured soldiers

A senior White House official told CNN Thursday that the United States has relayed through Sweden its demands that Yugoslavia treat three captured U.S. Army soldiers humanely and allow the International Committee of the Red Cross or other medical personnel to visit the men immediately.

President Clinton was told about midnight (0500 GMT) that NATO had confirmed the capture of the soldiers by Serb forces, the official said.

The Convention, however, covers prisoners of any armed conflict.

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross should be allowed to visit the captured men under the terms of the Convention, said IRC President Louise Doswald Beck.

The Convention requires that prisoners of an armed conflict be treated humanely and that they be visited by the IRC to confirm their health and safety. The convention does not, however, specify when an IRC visit should take place, Beck said.

and two years ago, this

Azeris ask Red Cross to help release captured soldier

ANS TV, Baku
2 Jul 04

The state commission of the Azerbaijani National Security Ministry for POWs, hostages and missing persons has officially appealed to the Baku office of the International Committee of the Red Cross to help release Aydin Salman oglu Huseynov, a soldier of the national army, who was captured by Armenians in Agdam District of the Armenian-Azerbaijani front line on 30 June. The commission also asked the Red Cross to register him as a prisoner of war.

Negotiations are under way with the Armenian side to get Huseynov released.

So, I repeat, has the Red Cross visited Gilad Shalit?

Even if, perhaps, Israel is not encoraging such for the reason that it doesn't want to grant any formal recognition to the Hamas (and I really haven't any knowledge of this), what does the Red Cross care? If it can condemn Israel for "crimes", can it not at least try to do its duty?

I repeat, what is the Red Cross doing in its humanitarian role for Jews, oops, Israelis?