Gaza (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross is appalled that eight medics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society were killed while carrying out their work, along with first responders from the Civil Defence in Gaza and a staff member of the United Nations. Their bodies were identified today and have been recovered for dignified burial. These staff and volunteers were risking their own lives to provide support to others. We are deeply saddened and mourn alongside their families, loved ones, and colleagues.

Gaza (ICRC): Today, an office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Rafah was damaged by an explosive projectile despite being clearly marked and notified to all parties. Fortunately, no staff were injured in this incident, but this has a direct impact on the ICRC’s ability to operate. The ICRC strongly decries the attack against its premises.  

From the resumption of hostilities in Gaza and Israel to escalating violence in Yemen, millions of civilians in the Middle East find themselves once again trapped in a never-ending cycle of violence.

Today, our teams see the impact on civilians firsthand. In Gaza, people need aid and medical care, and hostages must come home. In Yemen, communities fear for their safety again. In Syria, recent waves of violence displaced people from their homes once again and created new waves of humanitarian needs.

This Opinion by Julien Lerisson was originally published on Haaretz

Gaza (ICRC) – The ceasefire in Gaza has proven vital to saving lives, bringing in humanitarian assistance and sustaining the civilian population. However, Gaza's humanitarian crisis is far from over. Aid deliveries had substantially increased over the course of the ceasefire, but they remain a drop in the ocean compared to the immense needs on the ground. 

The following is a statement attributable to Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross.  

Geneva (ICRC)—The ceasefire agreement has saved countless lives and offered a beacon of hope amid unimaginable suffering. Any unravelling of the forward momentum created over the last six weeks risks plunging people back into despair.  

Jerusalem (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in an overnight operation returned the remains of four deceased hostages to Israel and transferred 537 Palestinian detainees to Gaza and the West Bank. In total 642 detainees were released today from places of detention in Israel. The ICRC overnight also returned the remains of another deceased person back to Gaza from Israel following an initial transfer on 20 February. This comes after six hostages were released and returned to Israel on 22 February.

Jerusalem (ICRC) - Today the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) brought back the remains of those who should have been reunited with their loved ones in life, not in death. 

Our role today was to fulfill a vital humanitarian duty to allow families to mourn with dignity. They deserve to grieve and honour those they lost with a proper burial.   

Geneva (ICRC) – As we prepare for the next release operation, we once again call for all releases to be conducted in a private and dignified manner, including when they tragically involve the deceased. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will continue to fulfil the role assigned to us by the parties. This work is a fundamental humanitarian duty. We must be clear: any degrading treatment during release operations is unacceptable. 

Jerusalem (ICRC) – The continuation of the ceasefire agreement has enabled more families to be reunited as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) safely transferred three hostages out of Gaza to Israel, and 343 Palestinian detainees from Israeli places of detention to Gaza and the West Bank. A total of 369 detainees were released today.