Few organizations have the prestige and goodwill of the Red Cross.

I admit to having wondered whether the organization’s brand value was justified. Not that I have had any reason to be harsh to the organization; I have just grown naturally suspicious of anything Establishment of late.

My concerns were not unjustified. As of now, the Red Cross has yet to meet with the hostages in Gaza, although that could simply be due to the unwillingness of Hamas to give them access. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) did facilitate the exchange of hostages for Hamas prisoners in Israeli custody, so I give them credit for helping there.

But this bit of news? It’s a bad look for the ICRC.

Yes, it happened. https://t.co/oI1PDsvF7g

— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) December 8, 2023

One of the Israeli hostages–one among many, I assume–has not had access to her medication since being taken. Doron Steinbrecher’s parents have been trying to work with the Red Cross to get their adult child the medication she needs, and instead were sat down to listen to a lecture from the Red Cross workers about how they should understand the needs of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Families of Israelis being held hostage by Hamas were reprimanded by representatives of the Red Cross in a meeting earlier this week, with the Red Cross telling one family they need to “think about the Palestinian side,” KAN reported on Thursday night.

Roni and Simona, the parents of Doron Steinbrecher who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from Kfar Azza on October 7, were invited to a meeting with the Red Cross earlier this week.

Doron needs a medication she takes daily and her parents thought that the Red Cross was finally willing to transfer the medication to her, but instead they were sat down and reprimanded by representatives of the Red Cross.

I admit that an organization with the Red Cross’s mission should be equally concerned about the fates of all people in the region. It is their mission to do so, and like doctors, they make it clear that they serve everyone equally.

That, however, is not a parent’s responsibility. Their goal in life is to protect their offspring, and the Red Cross’ mission is supposed to help them accomplish that task.

“Think about the Palestinian side,” the representatives of the Red Cross told Simona, according to KAN. “It’s hard for the Palestinians, they’re being bombed.”

It’s hard to understand how the one fact relates to the other. Given their role in the exchanges, the Red Cross clearly has some access to the hostage-takers. There is a person in need, the Red Cross may or may not have the means to help, and they appear to be refusing to do so. Apparently because they think it would be unfair.

This is part of a pattern, the Israelis claim, that indicates that the ICRC is not acting impartially and has prioritized Palestinian lives over Israelis.

Dr. Nadav Davidovitz, who treated Elma after her release, said “We were in meetings with the Red Cross and asked them to make every effort to bring the medications to her, because some hostages are just dying. From a medical and nursing standpoint, what we witnessed is unlawful neglect.”

The Jerusalem Institute of Justice recently sent a letter to the ICRC pointing out that it had made several social media posts about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, but not a single one about the plight of the hostages and other Israeli victims from the October 7 massacre.

About three weeks after the attack, 1,200 lawyers across the world signed a letter written by the Israeli human rights group Shurat HaDin, condemning the Red Cross for not doing enough to help the hostages. The attorneys accused the organization of repeating the mistakes of indifference and inaction that it admitted to having made during the Holocaust.

It is not the job of the ICRC to choose sides; in fact, were they seen to do so, their usefulness as an intermediary would cease. It would serve no useful purpose to have the ICRC shouting from the rooftops that Hamas is a bunch of rapist terrorists who all deserve to be shot in cold blood. I can say that, but they can and should not.

The American Red Cross still hasn’t seen the hostages held by Hamas despite it being one of the conditions of the cease fire… prompting allegations that the Red Cross is in ‘bed’ with the terror group… Can this actually be true?? @wachteltweet joins Dan. pic.twitter.com/hAwVlvcGru

— Dan Abrams Live (@danabramslive) December 8, 2023

But it sure sounds like they have chosen a side, downplaying the humanitarian needs of the hostages and lecturing Israelis about their excessive concern for their family members. If that is the case, it’s not just a bad look but a betrayal of their mission and an indictment of their humanity.

The Red Cross certainly wouldn’t be the first elite mainstream institution to dent its brand due to hostility towards Israel. It is about as common today as sand on a beach.

After 9 weeks, @RedCross keeps failing to pay medical visits to Israeli hostages in #Hamas captivity

'They have to deal with a brutal, merciless terrorist organization. Hamas doesn't have any interest in humanitarian assistance or human values. They won't cooperate,'… pic.twitter.com/y8BWocsuPB

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) December 8, 2023

But before I get my dander up too much, I want to hear the Red Cross’ explanation, should there be one. No doubt they will have a defense. Let’s hear it.