Jerusalem/Tel Aviv (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has started a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The complex operation, which takes place at the request of the parties, is crucial to reuniting separated families.
Starting today, ICRC teams will receive the hostages held in Gaza and transfer them to Israeli authorities. In a separate operation, ICRC teams will transfer Palestinian detainees held in Israeli places of detention to Gaza and the West Bank. The ICRC will also facilitate the transfer of remains of the deceased so that families can bury their loved ones with dignity.
The ICRC's role in this operation is that of a neutral intermediary and is strictly humanitarian. The parties to the conflict determined the terms of the ceasefire agreement, including the individuals to be released and the timeline; the ICRC was not involved in the negotiations.
These operations are highly complex and require meticulous logistical and security planning to minimize the risk to life for anyone involved. It is the responsibility of the parties to the agreement to ensure they are conducted safely and with dignity.
As part of previous release operations, the ICRC has facilitated the release and transfer of 148 hostages and 1,931 detainees since October 2023. These operations are a powerful example of how the ICRC's role as a neutral intermediary can save and change lives, provided that the parties come to an agreement. It is crucial that all the relevant actors abide by their commitments to end the pain and suffering endured by so many.
