The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged the restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the maintenance of the ceasefire, following Israel's announcement to suspend aid deliveries. On Sunday, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric called for "every effort" to sustain the ceasefire and prevent "plunging people back into despair."  

In a statement from Geneva, Spoljaric emphasized that the ceasefire, in effect since 19th January after over 15 months of war, "has saved countless lives and offered a glimmer of hope amid unimaginable suffering." She warned that "any reversal of the momentum built over the past six weeks risks pushing people back into despair."  

Israel's suspension of aid to Gaza has been condemned by Hamas as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, whose second phase was set to begin this weekend but now appears stalled. Hamas rejected a last-minute U.S. proposal to extend the truce, arguing it allowed Israel to evade its prior commitments.  

The ICRC has played a key role in facilitating hostage-prisoner exchanges since 7th October. Spoljaric highlighted the organization's neutral mediation, stating, "Week after week, our teams have advanced the ceasefire by safely conducting these vital operations at the request of the parties." She reaffirmed the ICRC's commitment to this work despite intense scrutiny and criticism.  

During the first phase of the truce, Hamas released 25 hostages and returned the bodies of eight others to Israel, which freed around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. The ICRC facilitated these transfers, often under precarious conditions.