We publish the letter that the families of the Israeli hostages wrote to the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, and to the president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Kate Forbes, in view of the World Red Cross Day which was celebrated yesterday.
Dear ladies Spoljaric and Forbes,
We write to you with a heavy heart and deep concern on the occasion of World Red Cross Day on May 8. As we approach this important day, it is clear that there is no room for celebration when 132 people, Israeli and non-Israeli, including 19 women, a child and an infant, have been held hostage in Gaza for seven months.
The situation of these people, who have been subjected to captivity since October 7, reminds us of the gravity of the hostage situation that is emerging. Testimonies from survivors who were released (November 24 to 30) revealed extreme cases of psychological and physical violence, including brutal sexual violence (including against men), mutilation, torture, starvation and forced dehydration. Furthermore, the lack of medical care and the inability to access medical assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were mentioned. With each passing day, the health and lives of all the hostages are seriously in danger.
In the face of these grave violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the ICRC’s seemingly deafening silence regarding these violations, it would be morally indefensible to proceed with commemorations of World Red Cross Day this year. Instead of engaging in ceremonies and celebrations, you must recognize the gravity of the hostage situation and refocus your efforts toward calling for the immediate release of the hostages and safe return to their families.
Jean-Henri Dunant, the visionary founder of the Red Cross movement, once said: “The noblest goal is to alleviate human suffering.” It is our duty to listen to his words and stand in solidarity with those who suffer. Canceling this year’s World Red Cross Day commemorations would send a strong message of empathy and compassion to the hostages and their families and reaffirm your unwavering commitment to upholding humanitarian principles in the face of adversity.
We expect you to promptly heed our appeal, asking you to give the matter the urgent attention it deserves and take the necessary measures to address the hostage situation. Furthermore, we call on you to issue a public statement calling on Hamas to allow the ICRC to visit the hostages, as required by International Humanitarian Law, and to remind Hamas that the detention of the hostages, the prevention of ICRC visits, the denial of medical care and subjection to physical and psychological abuse are serious violations of international law, which require their immediate release.
Best regards,
Yossi Moatti, CEO of the Committee of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons
Hagai Levine, Head of the Health team
Hostages and missing
Family forum
