The mothers of four hostages met with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric in Geneva on Tuesday.
Galia David, the mother of Evyatar David, shared, “We spoke from our hearts to hers, as mothers. The Red Cross president received the Health Ministry’s report released today, allowing her to truly understand the facts. This included testimonies from released hostages about their condition up until recently, as well as the latest videos released by Hamas.”
David added, “Many of the health concerns we raised have unfortunately come true. We felt the president was sincere in her response and assured us that she would do everything in her power to help.”
Viki Cohen, mother of Nimrod Cohen, said, “The president showed great empathy and care, promising she was doing all she could to help in this complex situation. She stressed that ending the war would benefit both sides, Hamas and the hostages, ensuring their return to Israel.”
Sylvia Cunio, the mother of David and Ariel Cunio, urged, “I continue to ask everyone to do everything they can to bring our children home. It is vital that those in charge see their condition, both physical and mental, and ensure that food, water, medicine, and everything else they need are provided.”
Merav Gilboa-Dalal, mother of Guy Gilboa-Dalal, said, “We mothers felt that we truly touched the Red Cross President’s heart. She understood our pain and saw the photos of our children. She acknowledged the severity of their condition and emphasized the urgent need for medical supplies and food. We left with a sense of hope that something may be done.”
Meeting with WHO director-general
After the meeting with the mothers, Professor Hagai Levine, head of Israel's health task force for the Hostage Families Forum, also met with Spoljaric and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
During their discussions, Prof. Levine presented a report on deliberate starvation prepared by health experts at the forum. He also shared the book Hunger Disease, written by Jewish doctors in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust, which documents the devastating effects of starvation.
Additionally, Levine gave Spoljaric a letter with consolidated medical reports. The letter emphasized the urgent need for ongoing medical treatment and immediate intervention for the hostages.
The letter also reiterated the importance of Red Cross visits to the hostages, something the families have been asking for since day one. However, given the critical condition of the hostages, such visits can no longer replace the immediate medical intervention they desperately need.
After the meetings, Levine emphasized, “All hostages are humanitarian cases. The living are in immediate mortal danger, and the dead are at risk of being lost forever. We are at a critical juncture. The hostages have no time left. We must bring them home now and end the war.”
ICRC, WHO call for hostage release, end to war
Last week, following the publication of hostage videos of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, the ICRC and WHO called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
"These videos are stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held," the ICRC stated. "We have said from day one, and we reiterate, that all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally."
Ghebreyesus echoed the ICRC's statement in a post on X/Twitter, saying that "all those being held must receive access to food and medical care, and must be treated without any form of humiliation."