The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a rare statement defending its role amid accusations that it did not do enough to help hostages in Gaza or Palestinian detainees in Israel. In response, the ICRC insists on its neutrality and outlines the limits of its role during the escalation of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In recent days, ICRC vehicles have facilitated the transfer of Palestinians out of Israeli detention and the transfer of hostages held in the Gaza Strip since Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, 2023. However, the transfer of hostages has been sharply criticized following chaotic scenes on Thursday as masked fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad struggled to hold back a surging crowd. The ICRC stated that ensuring the safety and security of the handover operations is the responsibility of the parties to the agreement. Furthermore, "interfering with armed security personnel could compromise the safety of ICRC staff and more importantly that of the hostages." In late 2023, Israel's then foreign minister Eli Cohen said that the Red Cross had "no right to exist" if it did not visit the hostages in Gaza. However, the organization is reliant on the goodwill of belligerents. The ICRC acknowledges that during World War II, it failed to speak out and act on behalf of the millions who suffered and perished in death camps. It said it unequivocally rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms. The ICRC has been accused of not putting pressure on Israel to secure visits to Palestinian detainees since Oct. 7, 2023, and also of not doing enough to help the wounded in Gaza. The humanitarian organization says it has been actively engaging with Israeli authorities to allow for the resumption of ICRC visits and family contacts. Following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Jan. 19, the ICRC is deploying more personnel, including doctors. Nearly 60 years later, the ICRC is facing similar accusations since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.?

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a rare statement defending its role amid accusations that it did not do enough to help hostages in Gaza or Palestinian detainees in Israel. In response, the ICRC insists on its neutrality and outlines the limits of its role during the escalation of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In recent days, ICRC vehicles have facilitated the transfer of Palestinians out of Israeli detention and the transfer of hostages held in the Gaza Strip since Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, 2023. However, the transfer of hostages has been sharply criticized following chaotic scenes on Thursday as masked fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad struggled to hold back a surging crowd. The ICRC stated that ensuring the safety and security of the handover operations is the responsibility of the parties to the agreement. Furthermore, "interfering with armed security personnel could compromise the safety of ICRC staff and more importantly that of the hostages." In late 2023, Israel's then foreign minister Eli Cohen said that the Red Cross had "no right to exist" if it did not visit the hostages in Gaza. However, the organization is reliant on the goodwill of belligerents. The ICRC acknowledges that during World War II, it failed to speak out and act on behalf of the millions who suffered and perished in death camps. It said it unequivocally rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms. The ICRC has been accused of not putting pressure on Israel to secure visits to Palestinian detainees since Oct. 7, 2023, and also of not doing enough to help the wounded in Gaza. The humanitarian organization says it has been actively engaging with Israeli authorities to allow for the resumption of ICRC visits and family contacts. Following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on Jan. 19, the ICRC is deploying more personnel, including doctors. Nearly 60 years later, the ICRC is facing similar accusations since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.?