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5 months ago

In this powerful and emotional report, a senior official from the Red Cross speaks publicly about the release of the last American hostage held by Hamas in Gaza. Shedding light on the humanitarian negotiations and behind-the-scenes efforts, the official reveals the challenges, diplomatic coordination, and emotional toll involved in securing the hostage’s freedom. This in-depth coverage offers a rare glimpse into the Red Cross's critical role in one of the most sensitive hostage releases in recent history.

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Transcript

00:00Let's get right to Fabrizio Carboni from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

00:04He's head of the regional delegation to the U.S. and Canada.

00:07Fabrizio, thank you so much for joining us.

00:10Can you share a little bit with us about Idan Alexander's condition

00:12after 19 months in captivity at the hands of Hamas?

00:17It's difficult for me to comment on his condition

00:19because he was just released a couple of hours ago.

00:24I know that my colleague took great care of him

00:27and then he was directly transferred to the Israeli authorities.

00:32And here you see the images.

00:34I think we all know how difficult and painful it was

00:40and to see these images of him reunited with his family.

00:43Yeah, that's an image we want to see more often for also all the hostages

00:51who are still in Gaza.

00:53Right, just so joyful after so much heartbreak.

00:58Just peel back the curtain for us as far as who contacted the Red Cross

01:02about Idan's possible release and what were you told?

01:05Look, it goes quite fast.

01:07I mean, the authorities contacted us on all sides.

01:11Hamas, the Israeli authority, also the American negotiator asking us to get ready.

01:17It went really fast.

01:18I mean, the fact that we are used to deal with the releases

01:23in extremely challenging security situations,

01:26the fact that our staff is working in Gaza present there

01:31allowed us to react very, very quickly.

01:34It was tense like always,

01:37but I would say compared to previous releases, it went smoothly.

01:43And you talk about previous releases.

01:45Because it feels like this one was different, the handoff at least.

01:49No stage, fewer Palestinian people in the vicinity,

01:52fewer members of Hamas as well.

01:54Why the difference here?

01:55I think we also made clear that we could not repeat the previous experiences.

02:02Obviously, it's not just our decision as ICIC,

02:05because you know that those releases are the result of very long

02:11and painful and difficult negotiation.

02:14And so sometimes you need to find the right balance between

02:17having hostages releases and tolerate what is intolerable.

02:23This time, I think we collectively, the negotiator and the ICIC managed to have conditions

02:34which were, I would say, a bit more respectful of this tragic situation.

02:41Now, Hamas still holds at least 20 living hostages

02:43in the bodies of some 40 others, including several Americans.

02:47Until a broader truce can be reached,

02:48what role does the Red Cross play to help ensure that the living hostages

02:52are treated humanely?

02:54Look, I think now after two years, it's no secret that we have no access.

03:00Unfortunately, this humanitarian situation is not treated as a humanitarian situation,

03:04but as a political one, as a military one.

03:07We regret this.

03:08We've been very clear on the fact that hostages should be released,

03:13by the way, even without negotiation, because it's illegal.

03:16We've asked repeatedly to have access.

03:20But the current political and military situation, unfortunately,

03:25undermine our humanitarian case.

03:28I also would like to stress that we don't visit the Palestinian detainees held in Israel.

03:35So we regret this.

03:36Again, humanitarian values and action are politicized, and it's very unfortunate.

03:41So we know that the Red Cross is on the ground in Gaza.

03:45What's the aid situation currently, especially regarding the food supply?

03:50Look, it goes way beyond the food supply.

03:52It's drugs.

03:52We run an hospital in Gaza today.

03:56We're running law in terms of medical supply.

03:59It's a dramatic situation.

04:03We regret that humanitarian access is, humanitarian assistance is not flowing.

04:10After almost two years of violence and conflict with the level of destruction,

04:16which affected the Gaza Strip, it's really dramatic.

04:23Essential infrastructure collapse, water, sewage system, health, food is in very, very, very short supply.

04:31Fabrizio Carboni from the International Committee of the Red Cross,

04:34we so appreciate your time tonight.

04:36Thank you for having me.

Red Cross Official Speaks Out on Final American Freed by Hamas in Gaza

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