International Red Cross vehicles reportedly carrying hostages released by Hamas on 24 November, 2023, cross the Rafah border point in the Gaza Strip on the way to Egypt, before being flown to Israel. Photo: AFP/ Mohammed Abed
An agreement's been reached to extend the Israel-Hamas truce with the militant group expected to free another 10 hostages a day for two days. Today, 11 hostages were released by Hamas and are now back in Israel. Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners were freed in return.
It brings the total number of Israeli hostages released to 69, mainly women and children, and Palestinians freed to 150.
Sarah Davies, who is based in Jerusalem working for the Red Cross said as a starting point, all the parties involved (Israel, Hamas and the mediators) had to agree to the releases of hostages and inmates. Then Gaza-based Red Cross teams and vehicles travelled to the meeting point, where they received the hostages from Hamas members.
She told Checkpoint the priority was to reassure the hostages that they were safe and would be taken out of Gaza.
They would receive psychological and medical assessments, and most importantly, they would be reunited with their families and other loved ones.
"What our teams have recorded, I've spoken to them, is really an overwhelming sense of relief. It is quite an emotional time, as you can imagine."
Davies said it took a while for reality to sink in for the hostages.
"What our teams have recorded, I've spoken to them, is really an overwhelming sense of relief" - Sarah Davies
For the Red Cross staff it was vital to play the role of being neutral facilitators - "that trusted bridge between".
"The most important part of this is completing it - picking up whoever we are able to."
She agreed it was a difficult line to walk and staying neutral was essential in any conflict.
"This is why we don't come out with political statements."
The Red Cross also played a role in transporting the Palestinian people who were being released from jail in Israel, she said. It was an anxious time for their families and it was moving when staff witnessed the reunions.
An International Red Cross vehicle carrying hostages released by Hamas drives towards the Rafah border point with Egypt on 25 November 2023 ahead of their transfer to Israel. Photo: AFP / Belal al Sabbagh
During the current ceasefire other charities as well as Red Cross have been transporting aid into Gaza and hospitals had been receiving some medical supplies.
"While the skies are silent now, while there's a ceasefire people are feeling more comfortable, more safe to walk from the north and the south."
However, it also meant unprecedented numbers of patients were seeking treatment for their injuries. Some were in such a bad state and had been left for so long, limbs were needing to be amputated in some cases, she said.
"What we are always calling for is a sustained flow [of aid], more aid needs to enter to deal with the immense needs that exist on the ground in Gaza for the people who aren't involved in this fight, in this conflict."
Asked about the onset of colder weather in the midst of huge damage to buildings, including homes, she said hundreds of thousands of people had been displaced. Some were sleeping in tents but with temperatures dropping, more aid was critical.
People were also coming out of hospital with nowhere to go.
Food, water, medical supplies and desalination plants were among the priorities, Davies said.