Red Cross says it hasn’t been told staff will be visiting hostages as Netanyahu claimed

By Jacob Magid

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

22 November 2023, 8:47 pm

3 Edit

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Israelis protest outside the Red Cross headquarters in Tel Aviv, demanding that the Red Cross insist on access to the approximately 240 hostages being held by Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza, November 9, 2023. (Ronen Topelberg)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed yesterday that Israel had successfully negotiated the inclusion of a clause in the hostage deal for the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit all of the Gaza hostages who remain in the Strip after the deal.

But the Red Cross issues a statement saying it has not been updated about such plans, which directly involve its staff.

“Since October 7, 2023, the ICRC has continuously asked for the release of all hostages held in Gaza and their humane treatment. We haven’t stopped doing so and will continue as long as it takes.

“Thus far, the ICRC has not been made aware of any agreement reached by both parties related to visits by the ICRC to the hostages. Should visits be agreed upon, the ICRC stands ready to visit. The ICRC does not take part in the negotiations between the parties to the conflict.”