The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Wednesday that it is ready to assist the implementation of the Israel-Hamas deal to release hostages.
Israel and Hamas on Wednesday confirmed their agreement on a Qatar-mediated proposal for a four-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
At least 50 hostages would be freed by Hamas for the release of about 150 female and teen Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, said the statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Qadura Fares, head of the Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs in the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, told Reuters that among more than 7,800 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel were about 85 women and 350 minors.
Most were detained without charges or for incidents such as hurling rocks at Israeli soldiers, not for launching militant attacks, he said.
According to the statement, during the temporary pause, hundreds of trucks will be allowed to send humanitarian supplies to different regions in the Gaza Strip. Israel had ordered a complete siege on the territory in retaliation for the October 7 incursion by Hamas, preventing essential aid carrying fuel, water, food, and other necessities from reaching Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
ICRC said it’s ready to help both sides in the release of hostages.
ICRC is actively engaged in talks with the parties to help carry out any humanitarian agreement they reach, it said.
As a neutral intermediary, it is important to clarify that ICRC is not part of the negotiations and does not make decisions on the substance of it. Its role is to facilitate the implementation, once the parties agree, ICRC noted.