Palestinian official says gaps in hostage deal include talks over Red Cross visits

A Palestinian official tells AFP that gaps in the delayed hostage and truce deal between Israel and Hamas include questions over the involvement of the Red Cross.

The official, who is close to the negotiations, says that questions are being raised over Red Cross access to the hostages before they would be released into Egypt, and whether the Red Cross will have access to those who remain.

When the ceasefire will go into effect will be announced by mediator Qatar, “in co-ordination with the Egyptians and the Americans, in the coming hours today,” he adds.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the deal included a promise that the Red Cross would visit those hostages who have not been released, something the international body then said it was unaware of.

At a press conference last night, Netanyahu reiterated that a clause in the deal includes Red Cross visits, and read from a document in Hebrew he said guaranteed their involvement, adding that “the Red Cross is part of the agreement” — as agreed to by Israel “and the other side.”

“So I expect the Red Cross to act according to that clause” in the deal. “Hamas might not honor it, but it is unthinkable that the Red Cross won’t demand it… if the Red Cross didn’t know — it knows now.”