A statement by Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross:

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.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) safely facilitated the return of hostages and detainees under the ceasefire agreement and continues to stand ready to do so. These efforts have reunited families and ensured that loved ones could be laid to rest in dignity.

Week after week, as a neutral humanitarian intermediary, our teams helped advance the ceasefire agreement by carrying out these vital operations safely at the request of the parties. We never wavered in our commitment to this work—despite intense scrutiny and criticism—because lives and families depended on it.

Every effort must be made to maintain the ceasefire so that lives are spared from hostilities, humanitarian aid enters Gaza, and more families are reunited.