Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

ICRC welcomes Israeli soldier,Palestinian detainees' release

ICRC welcomes release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and Palestinian detainees

Geneva/Jerusalem (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) welcomes the repatriation of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit following his release from Gaza, and the transfer of 477 Palestinians released from Israeli places of detention.

"We welcome today's events. They are a source of great joy for the many families who are being reunited with their loved ones," said Juan Pedro Schaerer, the head of the ICRC delegation for Israel and the occupied territories. "At the same time, we regret that repeated requests made over the past five years by the ICRC for access to Mr Shalit, in order to monitor his condition and to facilitate the exchange of news with his family, were uniformly rejected. And we regret that hundreds of families of Palestinians from Gaza held in Israeli places of detention were punished by being prevented from visiting their detained relatives."

In its role as a neutral and impartial intermediary, the ICRC helped ensure that the release operation ran smoothly. ICRC delegates interviewed each detainee in private prior to his or her release to verify that they accepted their release. The ICRC also facilitated the transportation of the detainees into the West Bank and from the Kerem Shalom crossing into the Gaza Strip.

For further information, please visit our website: www.icrc.org.

To preview and download the latest ICRC video footage in broadcast quality, go to www.icrcvideonewsroom.org.

Follow the ICRC on Facebook and Twitter.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.