The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), established in 1863 with a mission to aid victims of armed conflict, has a history of successful interventions in hostage situations worldwide.

Israeli rights organization Shurat HaDin has filed a 10 million shekel ($2.8 million) lawsuit against the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Jerusalem District Court.

Noam Peri, the daughter of Haim Peri, a captive of Hamas, has come to Washington to plead for help in freeing the more than 200 Israeli hostages held since October.