GENEVA: The world must seize the momentum from the first phase of the ceasefire to urgently alleviate the catastrophic human suffering in the Gaza Strip, International Committee of the Red Cross chief said on Friday, calling for an end to restrictions that have left millions in misery.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric emphasised that while recent prisoner exchanges allowed families to mourn or reunite, the civilian population remains in a desperate struggle for survival against harsh winter conditions and devastated infrastructure in the besieged territory.

“States must harness the momentum generated by the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas to urgently improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza,” Spoljaric said.

For the past 15 weeks, the ICRC has worked with mediators to facilitate the return of prisoners and the remains of the deceased.

Israeli kills three more Palestinians in Gaza

However, Spoljaric stressed that humanitarian steps are irreplaceable on the path to peace. She explicitly called on Israel to ease its blockade on so-called “dual-use” materials — such as water pipes and generators — which remain essential for restoring basic services.

“Many people in Gaza are still living in the rubble without basic services, struggling to stay warm amid harsh winter conditions,” Spoljaric said.

Rafah partial reopening

Following months of pleading from humanitarian organisations and Palestinians, Israel announced on Friday that it would reopen the Rafah crossing on the southern border with Egypt this Sunday on Feb 1.

The crossing, a vital lifeline for aid, has been shuttered by Israeli forces since they seized control of the area.

Israel said the crossing would open for the “limited movement” under the supervision of a European Union mission. Earlier, Hamas demanded the reopening of Rafah and the entry of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza in the territory.

Israel kills again

The Israeli military on Friday killed three more Palestinians in Gaza. Without identifying the victims, the military stated that further strikes were launched and that soldiers continued to conduct searches in the area. Since the truce entered into force, Gaza’s health ministry reports that 492 people have been killed by Israeli fire or bombardment.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026