Aid agencies urge rapid access to Gaza

ICRC says ready to facilitate prisoner-hostage swap

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JERUSALEM:

World leaders called on Wednesday for immediate resumption of aid to the devastated Gaza enclave moments after Qatar and the United States announced on Wednesday a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and their agreement on hostage-prisoner swap.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it stood ready to help implement the Gaza ceasefire and facilitate the prisoner and hostage exchanges, as Israelis expressed both joy and apprehension, fearing that all those held captive might not come home.

Muslim countries, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey gave a cautious welcome to the deal, expressing the hope that it would lead to the lasting peace in the region, as they called upon the world powers to ensure aid was swiftly delivered to Gaza.

Their call was endorsed by the chief of the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees, who urged a "rapid and unhindered" aid access to Gaza. "What's needed is rapid, unhindered and uninterrupted humanitarian access and supplies to respond to the tremendous suffering caused by this war," Philippe Lazzarini, chief of UNRWA, wrote on X.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement that his organisation was ready to facilitate the prisoner and hostage exchanges. "We are ready to facilitate any release operation as agreed by the parties so that hostages and detainees can return home," Spoljaric said.

The organisation, she said, was "also prepared to massively scale up our humanitarian response in Gaza, where the situation demands it", adding: "This will require continuous effort from the parties.