The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, has urged Israeli forces to honor the terms of the truce agreement, aiming to ensure the exchange of Palestinian detainees and Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

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Spoljaric also called on Hamas to fulfill its obligations by releasing Israeli hostages and returning the remains of captives who died over the past 15 months of conflict. “More families are anxiously waiting for their loved ones to return home,” she stated in an official communiqué.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement commenced on Sunday, January 19, leading to the release of three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinian detainees, most of whom are women and children from the West Bank.

The prisoner transport operations were carried out by the ICRC, which not only facilitated the return of the Israeli hostages to their families but also coordinated the release of Palestinian detainees in the West Bank. The ICRC described the mission as “complex,” citing the immense destruction inflicted on Gaza by Israeli military actions.

“Navigating large crowds and heightened emotions posed significant challenges during the transfers, while in Gaza, our teams had to contend with the dangers of unexploded ordnance and devastated infrastructure,” the organization explained.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) expressed gratitude for the ICRC’s efforts and confirmed that the first day of the ceasefire was largely respected by both Israeli forces and Palestinian resistance groups.

“For the first time in over 470 days, the people of Gaza hear the sound of children playing instead of airstrikes and bombardments,” said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. “Our teams on the ground report a positive first day of the truce,” he added.

Lazzarini further emphasized the importance of adhering to all points of the ceasefire to promote stability in the region and bring an end to what he described as Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza.

In the coming days, 33 additional Israeli hostages are expected to be released, while Israel has committed to freeing 1,900 Palestinian detainees as part of the agreement’s initial phase.

The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with hopes that this truce marks a step toward a more enduring peace in the region.

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