By Noureddine Omar | 2025-11-28

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is actively engaged in the Gaza Strip, concentrating its humanitarian assistance on addressing crucial issues like food shortages, medical emergencies, and various other humanitarian concerns.

On October 14, the United Nations and the ICRC called for the opening of all crossings into Gaza to facilitate the entry of vital humanitarian aid.

Observers and local teams in the Gaza Strip affirm the ICRC's essential role in aid delivery and managing the exchange of detainees and hostages.

Furthermore, its neutrality allows it to communicate with all parties, making it crucial for establishing and expediting peace.

Deliver urgent relief

The ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and individual national societies like the American Red Cross in the Gaza Strip are combining their efforts in the Gaza Strip to deliver urgent relief, Mohammed al-Arab, former head of operations for the Red Cross told Al-Fassel.

"These efforts work to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian suffering that has persisted for a duration of two years," he added.

"ICRC personnel are deployed to most local centers to provide aid and oversee fieldwork, which includes the delivery of medical, humanitarian, and food services," he said.

In cases where families lack any financial resources, al-Arab noted that direct financial assistance is provided.

US support

The United States and other supporters of peace fully acknowledge the crucial and important role that the Red Cross is playing, military expert Jamil Abu Hamdan told Al-Fassel.

He noted that the American Red Cross has disbursed $10 million to the ICRC to help remove any financial obstacles that may impact the ability to provide humanitarian relief.

The ICRC is providing medical teams and equipment, shelter, food, clean water, hygiene supplies, and cash assistance to families to meet their basic needs, as well as ensuring the dignified treatment of the remains of the deceased, according to a statement issued by the American Red Cross on October 13.

Abu Hamdan said that the ICRC's is directly involved in the peace process in the Gaza Strip.

"As a neutral party, the organization successfully earns the respect of all sides," he added.

ICRC's standing has been instrumental, enabling it to facilitate the sensitive exchange of hostages, prisoners, and the remains of a number of those killed.

Abu Hamdan noted that this success has served as a "calming factor," allowing efforts to move forward toward the priority tasks of advancing the peace process and providing aid to civilians.