"One has to take very seriously what the I.C.R.C. says," said Robert K. Goldman, professor of humanitarian law at American University. "This shifts the burden over to the Israelis."

Red Cross Criticizes Attacks on Its Facilities
In a rare public rebuke of one side during warfare, the International Committee of the Red Cross today branded the Israeli Army's behavior "totally unacceptable" for attacking its vehicles and buildings.

After Israeli soldiers threatened Red Cross staff members in Bethlehem at gunpoint and two Red Cross vehicles were damaged by Israeli tanks this week, the international committee issued a statement saying it could no longer risk the lives of its doctors and staff in many parts of the West Bank.

The international committee's decision to limit the movement of its staff on the West Bank follows weeks of complaints by other international organizations and the United Nations that the Israeli Army was blocking their ability to feed and provide medical care to Palestinian civilians.

The United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees complained on Tuesday that Israeli Army officers had arrested one of its staff members and that they had threatened the other members of a team delivering food and medical supplies to the Ramallah hospital.

"We're quite shocked and worried about these growing incidents," said Pierre Salignon, program director for Médecins sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders. "We have had direct attacks against our ambulances."

"This behavior is totally unacceptable, for it jeopardizes not only the lifesaving work of emergency medical services, but also the I.C.R.C.'s humanitarian mission," the statement said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/06/international/middleeast/06CROS.html