Skip to main content
Home International Committee of the Red Cross
Find help Donate
Back
  • Happening now
    Happening now

    Discover what’s new

    Stay updated with the latest news and ongoing initiatives of the ICRC.

    Latest operations

    Featured

    • A community kitchen in Myanmar
      Myanmar: One month on, earthquake survivors face continuing challenges
    • Red Cross Field Hospital aerial shot
      The Red Cross Field Hospital one year on: A lifeline and a stark reminder in Ga…
    • Red Cross staff at a water distribution
      Every attack on a humanitarian is an attack on the community they served. A sta…
  • Who we are
    Who we are

    We are the International Committee of the Red Cross

    Neutral, impartial, and independent. Discover our values and mission.

    Discover who we are
    • About us
      Our rich history, our mandate and mission, and our Fundamental Principles are behind the work we do to protect and save lives.
    • How we are run
      Our President and leadership, our finances and our accountability ensure the integrity of our humanitarian operations.
    • International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement
      The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest humanitarian network in the world.
  • What we do
    What we do

    Our work to protect people affected by conflict

    The ICRC responds quickly and efficiently to help people affected by armed conflict.

    All our activities

    In focus

    • ICRC working with the Myanmar Red Cross Society to support people displaced by violence in Pin Laung and Hsi Hseng, to provide emergency aid. Photographer: Thang Khan Sian Khai
      Protection: Upholding the rights of people in conflict
    • Reconnecting families: Preventing separation, searching for the missing, reunit…
    • Helping detainees: Protecting and assisting people deprived of their liberty
  • Where we work
    Where we work

    Explore our global reach

    We have offices in over 90 countries around the world, providing assistance and protection to people affected by conflict.

    ICRC around the world

    Key operations

    • Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Ethiopia
    • Israel and the occupied territories
    • Lebanon
    • Myanmar
    • Sudan
    • Syria
    • Ukraine
    • Yemen
  • Law & Policy
    Law & Policy

    Law & Policy

    Gain insights into the ICRC's role in developing and promoting international humanitarian law and policy.

    Discover more
    • Geneva Conventions and the law
      Even wars have rules. The Geneva Conventions are at the core of international humanitarian law.
    • Topics, debates and disarmament
      Weapons and disarmament, protected persons and other contemporary challenges for international humanitarian law.
    • Teaching IHL, research, Advisory Service and other resources
      We support the teaching, learning and implementation of humanitarian law principles.
  • Support us
    Support us

    Partner with us

    We invite organizations, institutions and philanthropists to join us in our mission to alleviate the suffering of those affected by armed conflict.

    How to partner with us

    Support us

    Find out how you as an individual can contribute to our humanitarian efforts to help people suffering because of armed conflict.

    How to support us
    • Ukraine: the crisis continues
    • Urgent: Israel-Gaza emergency appeal
    • Myanmar_Red Cross earthquake
      Urgent help needed: Myanmar earthquakes
  • Find help
  • Donate
  • Events
  • Contact us
  • Report an incident of misconduct
  • Work with us
  • FAQ
ICRC Websites
Photo gallery
05-09-2022

Gaza: When Two Hours Became Three Weeks

  • Israel and the occupied territories

Share

  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook
Abed Zaqout - ICRC

Mohammad’s two-year-old son, Nehad, misses him a lot. He keeps his father’s picture in his little hands all the time, even when he’s asleep.

“Mohammad is my eldest son. He’s a fisherman and the breadwinner of the family. He was arrested while fishing in the sea at the beginning of the year. I haven’t managed to see him until recently,” says Hanan Al-Silawi, 55, a mother of seven girls and three boys. “A call from the ICRC revived my hope that I will see Mohammad. I was told that I will be able to visit him on 02 August, together with his son. I spent the whole night preparing clothes and recent photos of the family,” she adds.

Abed Zaqout - ICRC

Hanan sitting with Mohammed’s wife, Dua’, and their son, Nehad, in their home in Gaza City.

“At the break of dawn, I was at the ICRC’s office waiting to get on the bus to join the family visit. Before reaching the crossing, we were informed that the border was closed, and it wasn’t possible to carry on with the visit. Words fail to explain the disappointment I felt. I was only a couple of hours away from seeing him for the first time in detention,” she says.

Abed Zaqout - ICRC

Hanan standing in Mohammed’s bedroom, which is still waiting for him to return and finish rehabilitating it.

“Four days later, there was an escalation. I was so worried and afraid to go through the same tragedy of May 2021, when an airstrike nearby destroyed half of my house. We had to move to a house rented by the authorities and live there for seven months. During that time, we were assisted by the ICRC with essential household items. Before being detained, Mohammad was trying to rebuild what had been destroyed. He managed to restore all the rooms but his bedroom. It is still there, waiting for his return,” she says.

Abed Zaqout - ICRC

Mohammed’s wife, Dua’, and their son, Nehad, are expected to visit him in October

“Hope was restored when we heard the news about the ceasefire. We were informed that the next visit is scheduled on 23 August. I prayed day and night for the crossing to stay open. On the day of the visit, I was too excited that I couldn’t recognize Mohammad at first sight. He kept waving and jumping
when he saw me and Nehad. His wife is expected to visit him in October. I’m already counting the days to see him again,” she adds.

The ICRC visits detainees in Israeli places of detention and works to maintain family links between detainees and their loved ones through the Family Visit Program.

Related articles

Photo gallery
09-04-2025

Tool on African Traditions and the Preservation of Humanity in Warfare

Des équipes chirurgicales débordées
Photo gallery
17-03-2025

DRC: Goma surgical teams overwhelmed

Celebrating 75 years of the Geneva Conventions
Photo gallery
12-03-2025

The ICRC in Bangladesh: 2024 in images

More photo galleries

Topic-dedicated ICRC websites

Explore our blogs, apps, reviews and other resources dedicated to humanitarian impact, insight, law and policy.

ICRC Websites

Direct access

  • Find help
  • Donate
  • Events
  • Contact us
  • Report an incident of misconduct
  • Work with us
  • FAQ

Newsletter

Fields marked with * are required
To learn how we process your data, visit our Privacy Notice.
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Privacy policy
  • Tax deduction
  • Privacy Settings
  • Community guidelines

Terms and conditions - ICRC ©2025 - All right reserved