On October 13, teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the return of 20 hostages and 1808 individuals detained as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. They also handed over the remains of four deceased hostages to the Israeli authorities.

So far, the ICRC has facilitated the release and transfer of 172 hostages and 3473 detainees since October 2023. These operations are a stark example of how the ICRC's role as a neutral intermediary can save and change lives, provided that the parties reach an agreement. It is crucial that all parties involved fulfill their commitments.

This operation was carried out at the request of the parties and in close cooperation with them. During the release operation, the ICRC focused on ensuring the safety and dignity of the transfers. Specialized ICRC personnel, including doctors, were available to provide immediate medical care if needed.

The ICRC's role in this operation is to be a neutral intermediary and is strictly humanitarian in nature. The conflict parties established the terms of the ceasefire agreement, including the list of individuals to be released and the timetable. The ICRC did not participate in the negotiations.

On October 14, the ICRC continues efforts to facilitate the transport of human remains as part of the ceasefire agreement. At the request of the parties, the ICRC's neutral role as an intermediary in this operation begins after the remains are handed over to the personnel. ICRC teams are taking measures to ensure respect for the deceased, including providing body bags, refrigerated vehicles, and deploying additional personnel to facilitate this process.

At the same time, the ICRC has called on the parties and mediators to ensure strict adherence to the agreement and the return of the remains of the deceased to grieving families. This is a crucial task and a key element in the full implementation of the agreement.

The ICRC has many years of experience in the transport of human remains.

It is worth noting that the ICRC will not make any recordings of the released hostages or detainees during these operations. This is out of respect for the dignity of the released individuals and their condition, as well as concerns regarding their safety. It has also called on the media to do the same.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a neutral, impartial, and independent organization whose sole purpose is humanitarian activity, arising from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. It assists people worldwide affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence, doing everything in its power to protect their lives and dignity and alleviate their suffering, often cooperating with its partners from the Red Cross and Red Crescent.