Hamas not moved by public pressure, ICRC chief tells Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets visiting International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger in Israel on December 14, 2023. (Amos Ben Gershon/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets visiting International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger in Israel on December 14, 2023. (Amos Ben Gershon/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with visiting International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger today, demanding that the organization “fulfill its mission” to reach the hostages taken by terror group Hamas in Gaza on October 7 and ensure their wellbeing.

In a televised portion of the meeting, he points to a sealed box labeled “medication and first aid for the hostages” and tells her she has “every right and every expectation to place public pressure on Hamas,” to access the remaining hostages in Gaza following the release last month of 105 civilians — Israeli women and children, and foreign nationals — in a weeklong truce brokered by Qatar.

“It’s not going to work because the more public pressure we seemingly would do, the more they would shut the door,” she replies.

“I’m not sure about that. Why don’t you try?” Netanyahu responds.

It is believed that 135 hostages remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — out of the 240 taken on October 7. Some are elderly and need consistent care, some are ill or believed to be injured, and most are believed to be held in dire conditions.

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