Geneva, Switzerland
Reuters
The Red Cross on Wednesday called for privacy and dignity ahead of the expected release of hostages’ bodies from Gaza under the terms of a ceasefire.
Logo of the ICRC is seen during the press conference of Robert Mardini, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 11th September, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Denis Balibouse/File photo
Thursday’s handover is expected to include for the first time the bodies of four hostages, including those of two children from the Bibas family and their mother, who have become symbols of the trauma of the 7th October attacks.
“We must be clear: any degrading treatment during release operations is unacceptable,” the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement.
The Hamas-directed hostage releases since the January 19 ceasefire have been characterised by large public ceremonies among Gaza’s ruins and have come under growing criticism, including from the United Nations, which denounced the “parading of hostages”.
The ICRC, a neutral intermediary responsible for releasing hostages and Palestinian prisoners under the terms of the ceasefire, has repeatedly called for improvements.
Some Israeli critics allege it has not done enough to protect the hostages and have mocked its role as a “ride share” service in a social media video. The ICRC has publicly rejected the criticism and said it seeks to ensure hostages are transferred in the best possible conditions.
Meanwhile, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad said on Wednesday that it would release the body of Israeli hostage Oded Lifshitz on Thursday.
The group said Lifshitz was one of the hostages killed during Israeli strikes on Gaza.
Hamas is set to release the bodies of three other hostages on Thursday, members of the Bibas family.
Hamas militants captured Yarden and Shiri Bibas and their two children when they led an attack on Israel on 7th October, 2023. Yarden was released on 1st February, 2025.
Hamas will also release six living hostages on Saturday, including Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengisto, who were held in Gaza before the start of war there.
– With reporting by JAIDAA TAHA and MENNA ALAA EL DIN
