Thu 6-February-2025

ICRC says ready to continue facilitating prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel

Tuesday 21-January-2025

GENEVA, (PIC)

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said its crews are ready to continue their role in facilitating the exchange of prisoners between Hamas and Israel, despite the challenges, especially the dangers posed by unexploded ordnances and destroyed infrastructure.

This came in ICRC’s statement on Monday that highlighted its role in the exchange of prisoners that kicked off between Hamas and Israel on Sunday.

The statement explained that ICRC crews facilitated the transfer of three female captives from Gaza to Israel and the transfer of 90 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons to the occupied Palestinian territories.

ICRC pointed out that the swap operation was complex, so strict security measures were undertaken to protect the prisoners.

The statement stressed that this operation was the beginning of a multi-stage process, noting that the ICRC worked as a “neutral humanitarian intermediary” to ensure the safe transfer of the prisoners.

The ICRC called on the parties to always adhere to international humanitarian law in the next release operations, stressing the need to always protect civilians, medical facilities and health workers.

ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric said she was satisfied to see the released prisoners being reunited with their loved ones, describing this as a touching moment.

“Ensuring their safe return and providing the necessary care at this critical moment is a great responsibility. This operation is a powerful example of how our role as neutral actor between the warring sides can serve and change lives, provided that the parties come to an agreement,” Spoljaric said.

“We call on all parties to continue to adhere to their commitments to ensure the next operation can take place safely,” Spoljaric added.

“Our teams are ready to continue implementing the agreement so that more hostages and detainees are released, and more families reunited,” she underscored.

On Sunday morning, a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel had come into force, and the first stage of which is supposed to last for 42 days or six weeks, during which negotiations will be held to accomplish the second stage and then the third stage.

Short link:

Copied