Red Cross chief to meet families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza

The Red Cross head will today meet family members of several of the 240 people seized in Hamas’s attack in Israel last month and held hostage in Gaza, the organization says.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Health Minister Uriel Menachem Buso will also take part in the meeting in Geneva with International Committee of the Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric, the ICRC says.

“Families of hostages are living through an incredibly heart-wrenching time and I want to underscore how hard we are advocating on behalf of their loved ones,” Spoljaric says.

“This is a key priority for me, and I know the enormous pain the families are enduring.”

The ICRC stresses that it has persistently been advocating on behalf of the hostages held in Gaza, including through direct contacts with Hamas and with others holding influence over the parties.

“Hostage-taking is prohibited under international humanitarian law. We continue to insist on the hostages’ release and are doing everything in our power to gain access to them,” Spoljaric says.

“We are deeply concerned that children, the elderly, people with disabilities and other vulnerable people are among those held,” she says. “We will not stop working for their release.”

Spoljaric insists, however, “We cannot do this alone; agreements must be reached that allow the ICRC to safely carry out this work.”

“ICRC cannot force its way in to where hostages are held. We can only visit them when agreements, including safe access, are in place.”

The organization says it is continuing to request information on the hostages and their current health condition, adding that it is also working to clarify the fates of those as yet unaccounted for.

“The hostages must be treated humanely, have access to medical care, and be able to communicate with their loved ones,” it says.

“The ICRC stands ready to facilitate their release, as it has done for four hostages so far.”