ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric States Earlier Pressure Could Have Saved More Hostage Lives in Gaza
Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has indicated that earlier and increased pressure during negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement might have prevented additional deaths. In an interview, Spoljaric reflected on the efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack. She emphasized that prolonged captivity complicates negotiations, stating, 'the longer it takes, the more complicated it becomes.' Spoljaric clarified that visiting hostages is more complex than securing their release and asserted that the hostages 'should have come back unconditionally as of Day 1.' She also mentioned conducting confidential discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as part of the organization's efforts to facilitate an agreement. These remarks follow sustained criticism against the Red Cross for its perceived failure to gain access to Israeli hostages held by H...
