Red Cross Faces Criticism After Meeting Hostages' Families
January 14, 2025
2:41 PM
Reading time: 4 minutes

On Sunday night, Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger met with several hostages and their families, following the ongoing hostage crisis involving Hamas. The meeting, which aimed to address concerns and frustrations, revealed the deep dissatisfaction of the families with the organization’s role in the crisis.
During the meeting, one of the released hostages shared her harrowing experience in Gaza and posed a poignant question: “How come medicine isn't reaching the hostages?” Her words echoed the frustration of many, as some families shouted in anger, accusing the Red Cross of negligence. “Why didn’t you do more? What’s the point of your organization if you don’t bring [the hostages] medicine?” one relative demanded.
A relative present at the meeting recounted the Red Cross’s response, explaining that Egger told the families that the organization was powerless to access the hostages due to restrictions on their movement. “They cannot reach those they are not allowed to reach, and they do not have enforcement powers,” the relative explained. Despite their repeated requests and demands, the Red Cross could not intervene beyond their limited capacity.
Egger acknowledged the challenges of modern conflicts, noting that wars have become more complex with the involvement of terrorist organizations that often do not adhere to international law. “The wars in the world have become more complicated,” she explained. “Terrorist organizations are not under international law and do not necessarily respect it.” She also pointed out that the Red Cross lacks the ability to locate hostages unless the captors provide that information.
The criticism directed at the Red Cross underscores a deepening sense of disillusionment among the families of hostages, who feel that the organization has failed in its mission to provide essential aid, including medical assistance, to those being held by Hamas. The families are questioning the Red Cross’s ability to fulfill its humanitarian obligations, and their anger reflects a broader frustration with the international community's handling of the crisis.