Israel's foreign minister urges Red Cross to prioritize wellbeing of Gaza hostages

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Israel's foreign minister on Tuesday urged the Red Cross to be "more loud and clear" on the issue of Israeli hostages taken to the besieged Gaza Strip by Hamas.

Asked about his previous remarks saying the Red Cross has "no right to exist if it does not succeed in visiting the hostages," Eliyahu Cohen told a press briefing at the UN's Geneva Office: "Red Cross should be more loud and clear with their statements and with the pressure."

"We don't ask them to negotiate in regard of the releasing of the hostages. This is our role and we are doing it through our allies," Cohen said, adding that the minimum for Red Cross to do is meet the hostages, receive a proof of life and transfer medicine to them.

Cohen, who visited Geneva with a delegation to meet officials of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), also refused to comment on negotiations to free the hostages.

"I cannot comment in regards to anything which is under negotiation," he said.

The minister said Israel is trying not to harm any hostages during its bombing of sites claimed to host Hamas tunnels in Gaza, and will "take any steps" in order not to harm civilians.

Israeli Health Minister Uriel Buso, for his part, said that during their meeting with ICRC, they asked information about whereabouts of the hostages, their health and any proof of life.

Several family members of the hostages were also present at the press briefing, who called for information about the wellbeing of their loved ones.

After the meeting, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said the "hostages must immediately be released" and they "will not stop working to gain access to them: and we need agreements to be reached that allow us to work.”

Hamas captured around 239 Israelis, including both military personnel and civilians, some of them dual nationals, during a surprise attack on Israeli settlements and military positions in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7.

Since then, at least 11,320 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,750 women and children, and around 29,000 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings including hospitals, mosques and churches have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1,200, according to official figures.