GENEVA, October 29. /TASS/. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reiterated its readiness to facilitate the release of hostages seized by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.

"The ICRC continues to call for the immediate release of all hostages, and we reiterate our offer to facilitate any future hostage release operation," the statement published on the ICRC website said. "We also ask to visit the hostages, bring them medicines, and to facilitate contact with their families who are worried sick waiting for news," the Red Cross said.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said she was shocked by the "intolerable level of human suffering" in Gaza. She called it "unacceptable" that "civilians have no safe place" in Gaza. "We continue our dialogue with the parties to find solutions to the most pressing humanitarian issues, such as protecting civilians and helping the wounded," the ICRC chief pointed out.

On October 27, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the country was "expanding the scope" of a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force is attacking "underground targets and terrorist infrastructure." The Gaza Strip has come under the most intense attack since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict escalated on October 7, according to the Al Arabiya and the Al Jazeera TV channels. Israeli forces are hitting several areas of the enclave simultaneously from the air, ground and sea. Due to the massive attacks in Gaza, communications and the Internet are not working.