Red Cross Condemns Hamas Staged Hostage Remains Recovery in Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has publicly condemned Hamas for staging a fake recovery of the remains of an Israeli hostage in Gaza, an act captured on video by the Israeli military. The footage showed Hamas militants burying the body before summoning Red Cross personnel and then retrieving the remains in their presence, creating a false impression of a genuine discovery. The ICRC stated its staff participated in good faith and were unaware of the staged nature of the event, emphasizing that human remains must be treated with dignity and that their return should never be politicized. This incident occurred amid delays by Hamas in returning hostages and their remains to Israel under a ceasefire agreement. Additionally, the ICRC has reiterated its calls for access to Palestinian detainees held by Israel, highlighting its role in monitoring detainee treatment and conditions in detention facilities. The organization continues to urge all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and forensic standards regarding the treatment of detainees and the handling of human remains.