International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric has revealed her meetings with former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar. These discussions aimed to facilitate a visit to Israeli hostages currently held in Gaza, as explained in a recent interview with New York Times reporter Lulu Garcia-Navarro.
Tackling Sensitive Negotiations
Spoljaric emphasized the challenging nature of these discussions, stating, “These were tough discussions, and trust me, we are very frank in these meetings.” She further mentioned that she also conversed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on this issue, highlighting the importance of confidentiality in such sensitive negotiations. “This is why these meetings have to always remain confidential,” she added.
When asked whether the ICRC has had any access to the hostages, Spoljaric confirmed negatively. She elaborated that the matter of visiting hostages is far more intricate than merely facilitating their return. “We can only work with the tools that we have,” she explained. In her view, the hostages should have been released unconditionally from the beginning, but acknowledged that the realities of the situation are more complex.
The Complexity of Hostage Situations
Spoljaric underscored that nothing could be more “complex, and to a certain extent also more brutal, than hostage-taking.” She elaborated that the goal should always be to secure the return of hostages, emphasizing that delays only complicate matters further. “I personally think that pressure should have come earlier in the negotiations. We could have saved more lives. And this was the subject of our conversations,” she noted.
Throughout her leadership, Spoljaric has maintained the ICRC’s commitment to neutrality, which she believes has been crucial in the return of many hostages from Gaza to Israel. She pointed out that the organization’s longstanding neutrality, upheld for over 160 years, enables them to act effectively in complex situations. “You tweak it once, you become political, and that’s it,” she cautioned.
Israel’s Obligations Concerning Detainee Visits
In another significant statement, Spoljaric asserted that Israel has both a “moral” and “legal” obligation to allow visits to detainees. Since the attacks that occurred on October 7, visits to Israeli security detainees have been put on hold. “We need to inform the families about the whereabouts of or the fate of their relatives,” she stressed, reminding that capturing a soldier does not equate to a criminal act.
The conversation also touched upon the treatment of combatants. Spoljaric expressed concern about the “dehumanization” evident in acts of torture and other illegal actions. She warned, “If you tell your soldiers, ‘Go and kill women and children,’ these people dehumanize themselves.” She implied that this mentality could have long-term repercussions on both the soldiers and the broader conflict.
Spoljaric’s insights serve as a crucial reminder of the urgency and complexity of hostage negotiations, particularly as they relate to international humanitarian law. Her emphasis on maintaining neutrality while advocating for human dignity reinforces the ICRC’s critical role in modern conflict scenarios.