Hamas/Israel war: ICRC registers happy with release of hostages

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric has expressed relief with release and peaceful swap of the three(3) Israel hostages and Ninety (90) Palestinian detainees by the warring actors.

Aliyu Dawobe, Public Relations Officer of the ICRC Abuja Delegation dropped the hint in a press statement issued Monday, stressing that the ICRC helped facilitate release of three hostages and 90 detainees, bringing hope and relief to their families

“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the release and transfer of three hostages out of Gaza to Israel, and 90 Palestinian detainees from Israel to the occupied Palestinian territory.

“We are relieved that those released have been reunited with their loved ones,” said Spoljaric.

According to the statement, the ongoing operation of ensuring the safe return and providing the necessary care for the hostages and detainees at this critical moment is a great responsibility which  is a powerful example of how ICRC’s role as a neutral actor between the warring sides can save and change lives, provided that the parties come to an agreement.

Spoljaric explained that, the operation was complex, requiring rigorous security measures to minimize the risks to those involved in navigating large crowds and heightened emotions posed challenges during the transfers, and in Gaza, ICRC teams had to manage the dangers posed by unexploded ordnances and destroyed infrastructure.

She added that, operation marks the beginning of a multi-phase operation, as agreed by the parties, to bring hostages and detainees home with the ICRC, as a neutral humanitarian intermediary, facilitates the safe transfer of hostages and detainees.

She assured that, Specialized ICRC staff, including doctors, are on-hand to provide care as needed stressing that, ICRC teams are ready to continue to implement the agreement so that more hostages and detainees are released, and more families reunited.

“The ICRC is ready to significantly scale up its humanitarian response, in coordination with Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners. This includes providing much-needed relief like medicines and food as well as support to essential services like health care, water and sanitation, and electricity.”