Deliberate threats to civilians ‘indefensible, inhumane’: ICRC
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger said intentional threats against civilians are devastating for entire populations, emphasizing that “endless wars” should not be normalized.
“Any deliberate threats against civilians – in rhetoric and in action – are indefensible, inhumane and devastating for entire populations. We cannot normalize endless war. We need to bring humanity back into the conversation on conflict,” Spoljaric said in an exclusive interview with IRNA published on Sunday. Spoljaric visited Iran less than two weeks ago to discuss humanitarian consequences of a recent aggression by the US and Israel against Iran.
During her visit, she visited some of the residential and civilian areas damaged in the US-Israeli attacks in the capital, Tehran.
In response to a question about the ICRC’s position about the US’s attack on a school in southern Iran on the first day of the war, which led to the killing of more than 120 children, Spoljaric stressed that the loss of civilian lives, especially children, is deeply tragic.
“Schools and universities must remain sanctuaries for learning. All parties must respect and ensure respect for the protection granted to schools under international humanitarian law,” she said.
Referring to US threats of targeting Iran’s infrastructure, the ICRC’s president said international humanitarian law sets limits on how wars are fought.
“I have already said that any deliberate threats against civilians – in rhetoric and in action – are indefensible, inhumane and devastating for entire populations. We cannot normalize endless wars. We need to bring humanity back into the conversation on conflict. Civilians and the infrastructure they rely on to survive need to be protected,” she said.