Gaza: The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, confirmed the ICRC’s readiness to help implement the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which will come into effect next Sunday.
According to Qatar News Agency, Spoljaric stated, “We are ready to facilitate any release operation as agreed by the parties so that hostages and detainees can return home. We are also prepared to massively scale up our humanitarian response in Gaza.” She emphasized the committee’s full and unconditional readiness to facilitate the release process as agreed by the parties, ensuring the safe return of hostages and detainees, while significantly expanding humanitarian efforts in Gaza as the situation demands, and guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of the committee’s teams.
Spoljaric noted the scale of suffering that the Palestinians endure daily requires a great effort to put an end to it, as civilians in Gaza need protection and humanitarian support. She stated that “this is only possible with political commitment from all sides to put humanity first and respect the rules of war”. Spoljaric expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement would mark a new beginning in safeguarding civilian lives and prioritizing the needs of Gaza’s residents. She emphasized that the coming days are “crucial,” with the ICRC relying on the parties to honor their commitments to the agreement, especially given the immense humanitarian needs, which will take months, if not years, to address.
The committee has maintained a continuous presence in Gaza and urges all parties to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law, including protecting civilians from the effects of hostilities and safeguarding healthcare facilities. The joint mediation efforts undertaken by Qatar, in collaboration with Egypt and the US, successfully led to an agreement between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel to cease fire in the Gaza Strip and exchange prisoners and detainees. The agreement is set to take effect next Sunday.
