Israel has ‘no proof of life’ for hostages seized by Hamas in October 7 attacks, foreign minister declares, claiming the Red Cross has not been able to meet any of terror group’s captives

• Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met Red Cross head Mirjana Spoljaric in Geneva 

Israel allegedly has no proof of life for the hostages seized by Hamas in the October 7 attacks, the country’s foreign minister has declared.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen also claimed the Red Cross has been unable to meet any of the terror group’s captives after meeting the organisation’s head in Geneva. 

‘Until today, none of our hostages met the Red Cross,’ Cohen said. ‘We don’t have any proof of life.’

Cohen and Israel’s Health Minister Uriel Menachem Buso met with Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to discuss the war that erupted after the October 7 Hamas attacks.

‘We asked for information… about the whereabouts of the hostages,’ Buso said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (pictured) also claimed the Red Cross has been unable to meet any of the terror group’s captives after meeting the organisation’s head in Geneva

‘Until today, none of our hostages met the Red Cross,’ Cohen said. ‘We don’t have any proof of life’ (pictured: Noa Argamani who was kidnapped by Hamas)

‘We asked for information… about the whereabouts of the hostages,’ Israel’s Health Minister Uriel Menachem Buso said (pictured: a hostage

‘The wounded ones, the babies, any information that they can give us regarding proof of life.’

Israel says that 1,200 people were killed and 239 people taken hostage by Hamas fighters who crossed the border to stage the deadliest attack in Israeli history.

READ MORE: IDF prepare to storm Hamas terror tunnels: How Israeli troops now face the most dangerous stage of the ground invasion as they enter booby-trapped Gaza passages where terrorists lie in wait

The Hamas health ministry in Gaza says that at least 11,240 people have been killed in Israel’s military onslaught since October 7.

Family members of some of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza also attended that meeting, as well as the press conference afterwards at the United Nations.

They held up pictures of their missing loved ones, and played audio and video gathered at the time several were taken.

‘We are here to shout for them and we need to bring them justice,’ said Ofri Bibas Levy, holding up a picture of her nephew Kfir Bibas – the youngest of the hostages, who was nine months old when he was seized with his parents and four-year-old brother.

‘We need to bring them home as soon as possible,’ she said.

Before Tuesday’s meeting, Spoljaric issued a statement highlighting that ‘families of hostages are living through an incredibly heart-wrenching time and I want to underscore how hard we are advocating on behalf of their loved ones’.

‘This is a key priority for me,’ she said, stressing that the ICRC had persistently been advocating on behalf of the hostages held in Gaza, including through direct contacts with Hamas and with others holding influence over the parties.

Qatar, the United States and Egypt have been involved in attempts to free hostages. Hamas released four women following Qatari mediation, while the Israeli army freed one captured soldier.

Smoke billows during the Israeli military bombardment of the northern Gaza Strip today

Israel says that 1,200 people were killed and 239 people taken hostage by Hamas fighters who crossed the border to stage the deadliest attack in Israeli history

Family members of some of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza also attended that meeting, as well as the press conference afterwards at the United Nations (file image of demonstration in front of the Red Cross in London this month)

Cohen vowed that Israel would ‘continue this war until we eliminate Hamas and until we receive all our hostages back’

Hamas released a video of 21-year-old Mia Shem from Shoham, who was kidnapped by the terror group

‘Hostage-taking is prohibited under international humanitarian law. We continue to insist on the hostages’ release and are doing everything in our power to gain access to them,’ Spoljaric said.

The organisation, which also helped facilitate the release of the four women, stood ready to facilitate the release of the others, she said.

She insisted though that ‘we cannot do this alone; agreements must be reached that allow the ICRC to safely carry out this work.’

‘ICRC cannot force its way in to where hostages are held. We can only visit them when agreements, including safe access, are in place.’

But Cohen said this was not enough, insisting that the ICRC ‘should be more loud and clear with their statements and with the pressure’.

‘Hostage-taking is prohibited under international humanitarian law. We continue to insist on the hostages’ release and are doing everything in our power to gain access to them,’ Spoljaric from the Red Cross said

Cohen also strengthened already harsh criticism of UN chief Antonio Guterres, who has called for a ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ in Gaza and condemned ‘clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza’, without naming either side (pictured: 

Smoke rising from Gaza are seen from the Sderot city after Israeli attacks hit the city on November 14

He vowed that Israel would ‘continue this war until we eliminate Hamas and until we receive all our hostages back’.

He also strengthened already harsh criticism of UN chief Antonio Guterres, who has called for a ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ in Gaza and condemned ‘clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza’, without naming either side.

‘Guterres does not deserve to be the head of the United Nations,’ Cohen said Tuesday.

‘Guterres did not promote any peace process in the region.’

Guterres’ spokesman responded, saying ‘the Secretary-General continues his work with nerves of steel, calmly, focused, and based on principles.’

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