ICRC ready to help implement Gaza ceasefire agreement
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The ceasefire in Gaza is scheduled to take effect on Sunday, January 19.
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Palestinians celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza in Deir al-Balah on January 15, 2025. (AP)
On Wednesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that it is prepared to assist in the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the return of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners.
ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric also stated that "We are also prepared to massively scale up our humanitarian response in Gaza, where the situation demands it."
“We welcome the announcement about the ceasefire in #Gaza. Many have been hoping for this moment for the past 15 months.
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) January 15, 2025
This agreement will finally bring much needed respite for the people of Gaza and the release of hostages.
What’s needed now is rapid, unhindered and… pic.twitter.com/mfI3jRBUpK
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held a press conference to announce the successful efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
During the press briefing, Al Thani confirmed that both Palestinian and Israeli parties had agreed to the terms of the ceasefire, which is set to be implemented on Sunday, January 19.
It is noteworthy that despite the announcement of a ceasefire, an Israeli attack on a residential building in western Gaza City killed eighteen people and injured numerous more, according to Palestinian station Al Aqsa.
According to reports, the strike targeted a building near the engineers' union.
ICRC: Gaza's healthcare system 'obliterated'
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued a stark warning in late December about the dire state of Gaza's healthcare system, particularly in the North, as "Israel" continues to ravage the Strip. On Monday, the Geneva-based organization described the region's health services as "obliterated," with key hospitals no longer functioning.
"Repeated hostilities in and around hospitals have obliterated the health care system in northern Gaza, putting civilians at an unacceptably grave risk of going without lifesaving care," the ICRC said in a statement. It urged all parties to respect and protect medical facilities, noting that such protection is both a "legal obligation and a moral imperative to preserve human life."
The situation in Gaza has worsened significantly, with facilities like the Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals now "completely inoperable." These hospitals had already been struggling for months due to ongoing damage, threats to staff and patients, and limited resources. The al-Awda Hospital, one of the few still operational in northern Gaza, faces immense pressure as it attempts to handle the overwhelming influx of patients and displaced individuals seeking shelter.
Recent Israeli aggressions have exacerbated the crisis. Israeli forces conducted a large-scale raid on the Kamal Adwan Hospital over the weekend, resulting in its closure. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) reported that approximately 20 Palestinians were killed, and 240 individuals identified as "terrorists" were apprehended during the operation. The World Health Organization confirmed that this left northern Gaza's last major hospital out of service and evacuated all patients.
