ICRC urges world to address "dramatic" Gaza situation

The world must now turn attention to the dramatic situation in Gaza, following the handover of hostages to Israel, says Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "Over the past 15 weeks, the ICRC has been working with Israel, Hamas and mediators to repatriate hostages, detainees and the remains of deceased persons to their families, in accordance with the first phase of the ceasefire agreement that came into force on 10 October", Mirjana Spoljaric said a press release. + Read more of our coverage of the Middle East crisis She stressed that "states must now take advantage of the momentum created by the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas to urgently improve the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza". The ICRC president called on the international community to "seize every opportunity to intensify its efforts to alleviate the suffering in Gaza". "In ...