Report: President of Red Cross to Visit Gaza Hostages

By Aryeh Stern

The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, plans to visit Gaza to advocate for access to hostages held by Hamas. She aims to facilitate the Red Cross representatives’ visit to these hostages, Army Radio reported on Monday.

Spoljaric recently met with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, during her visit to Qatar. However, despite previous agreements, the Red Cross hasn’t been permitted to see the hostages held by Hamas since the terrorist attack on Israel.

A ceasefire pact had provisions for the Red Cross to visit the captives, which didn’t materialize. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Health Minister Uriel Busso, and hostage families’ representatives met Spoljaric in Geneva, pressing for immediate Red Cross access and medical aid for the captives.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also urged Spoljaric to secure the release of Israeli hostages per international law and ensure Red Cross verification of their safety and well-being.

Last week, Busso criticized the Red Cross. He noted the need for the organization to protect the hostages’ families and provide essential medical information.