President Aoun: We Face Those Who Do Not Believe in the Sanctity of International Law and Do Not Respect It

President of the Republic Joseph Aoun praised "the performance of male and female Red Cross volunteers in their mission based on serving humanity with neutrality and without any bias to preserve the lives and dignity of citizens, and words fail to describe the magnitude of their sacrifices and their humanitarian and national commitment across the Lebanese territory."

He said before the Lebanese Red Cross delegation: "You do not heed risks in order to save the lives of others, and this level of sacrifice is the highest degree of selflessness, especially since you go so far as to sacrifice your lives to save others, without compensation, and in the most difficult circumstances."

He added: "It is our duty to stand by you, defend you, and protect you, because what you give to Lebanon and its people reaches the level of sanctity. No sanctity reaches the level of self-sacrifice freely and out of conviction, to save the lives of others, stemming from your belief in the importance of the humanitarian mission you carry out, and this is a source of pride for you from all Lebanese. We have demanded an end to the targeting of health bodies in all their forms, from the Red Cross to Civil Defense, as well as journalists, in accordance with applicable international laws and humanitarian norms. But unfortunately, we face those who neither believe in the sanctity of international law nor respect it. However, we will spare no effort and will not stop demanding this and directing appeals to various parties in order to achieve this goal."

President Aoun continued: "We hope that the aggression against Lebanon will end soon and that we will end this suffering, so that all Lebanese can express their standing by you to support you, even with the widow's mite. I commemorate the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, which falls today, and I note the humanitarian message he spread globally, which over the years and human sufferings has become a school in altruism and dedication."