Gaza: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday called for a 'renewed' and 'sustainable' ceasefire after facilitating a key hostage release in Gaza.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ICRC emphasized the urgent need for political will to save lives and reinstate the ceasefire, stressing the importance of sparing civilians from hostilities, allowing humanitarian relief into Gaza, and reuniting more families. Mirjana Spoljaric, head of the ICRC, expressed relief after Palestinian resistance group Hamas handed over Israeli American hostage Edan Alexander to the Red Cross.

Spoljaric highlighted the ongoing plight of the remaining hostages, their families, and the hundreds of thousands of civilians affected across Gaza. The ICRC reiterated that international humanitarian law mandates the unconditional release of all hostages and emphasized the catastrophic humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Gaza.

The statement from the ICRC underscored the necessity of allowing and facilitating the rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian relief for civilians, as required by international humanitarian law. It also called for access to Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

Israel's blockade on food, water, and humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza has been in place for nine weeks. The ICRC affirmed its commitment to ongoing assistance activities in Gaza, including facilitating further hostage releases and providing humanitarian and medical aid.