The Red Cross says it is ready to secure the release of hostages in Gaza
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is ready to take over the operation for the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. A spokesperson for the organization said on January 18.
"We are ready to carry out all necessary aspects of this operation and fulfill the agreement of the parties, which will lead to the reunification of families throughout Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to Gaza," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
He also pointed out that the ICRC is preparing for a large-scale operation to release hostages and detainees, as well as to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. The committee is overseeing all aspects, including transportation logistics, staff augmentation and distribution of supplies, as well as training of staff, including doctors, and careful security planning.
Earlier in the day, The Times of Israel reported on the upcoming Jan. 19 release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas. Their names are expected to be announced today, as the deal calls for names to be provided 24 hours before the release, the publication explained. According to the agreement, the first Israelis to be released should be mostly women, children, the disabled and the elderly.
Theceasefire regime in the Gaza Strip will begin in the morning of January 19, as agreed upon by both sides and mediators. The Israeli government approved the agreement with the Palestinian Hamas movement on January 17 following a six-hour meeting.
The Gaza ceasefire agreement was announced on January 15. The next day, the Ministry of Defense and the IDF began preparations to implement the agreement. In particular, the State Defense Ministry's Directorate of Checkpoints and the Design Department will be involved in the implementation of the deal in order to speed up logistics.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas subjected Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.
