Red Cross Accompanies Hamas in Search for Bodies of Israeli Hostages in Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that its representatives accompanied members of Hamas into areas of the Gaza Strip still under IDF control to support the search for the remains of Israeli hostages.

Ceasefire Terms and Captive Remains Handover

As part of the truce negotiated by the United States, which took effect on October 10, the group is required to return the remains of all Israeli hostages promptly. As a reciprocal measure, Israel has consented to transfer the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli.

Hamas has so far handed back the remains of 15 of those held captive but none in the last five days, as some of those remains are thought to be in locations past the ceasefire boundary marking Gaza’s ceasefire.

ICRC Role as Neutral Intermediary

“At the request of the parties, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) accompanied a participant in the hostilities as the party searched for the bodies of the deceased individuals beyond the military-established ‘yellow line’,” stated a spokesperson for the organization.

She continued: “The parties to the hostilities established the modalities of the operation and entrusted the ICRC to act as a impartial mediator. We was not involved in those negotiations.”

She additionally clarified: “The ICRC was not involved in the physical hunt for the bodies nor does it engage in the physical recovery of human remains.”

International Humanitarian Law and Responsibilities

According to international humanitarian law, it is the responsibility of the parties engaged in a hostilities to search for, gather, and retrieve human remains.

American Demand and Local Search Efforts

Recently, the American leader issued a two-day ultimatum to the militant group. “Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including American citizens, promptly, or the other countries participating in this significant truce will take action,” he posted on his online channel.

When the two-day window approached, Hamas, joined by the Red Cross, joined Egyptian teams, who were authorised by Israel to search for bodies beyond the boundary indicating the withdrawal of troops inside Gaza. An Israeli spokesperson said the Egyptian team would use heavy machinery and trucks in the search.

Official Verification and Media Reports

The news was supported by an unnamed Israeli official, who told Hebrew-language media that members of the group had been allowed to access sections of Gaza under Israel Defense Forces (IDF) control to look for the bodies of captives, together with Egyptian and Red Cross teams.

“For this purpose, representatives were permitted to pass the yellow line,” the official was quoted as stating.

Video released by a regional network seemed to show individuals of a specialized group – belonging to the organization’s armed faction tasked with guarding hostages – escorting a humanitarian transport in a specific location close to a southern city, which is beyond IDF jurisdiction.

Difficulties in Finding Hostage Remains

The search for the remains of individuals taken captive has become one of the most delicate issues in the ceasefire reached between the parties. However, the attempt to find the bodies has been difficult from the outset, given the presence of an approximate 60m tonnes of rubble across the strip, where, as per local health authorities, at least 10,000 Palestinians are recorded as unaccounted for, trapped under the rubble.

Diverging Statements on Remains Location

Hamas has stated it does not know the precise whereabouts of all the remains, saying it has been unable to communicate with several of its units that had been holding the captives and were allegedly eliminated during Israeli bombardments.

However, an Israeli government spokesperson claimed that Hamas was aware of the locations of the bodies. “Should the group made more of an effort, they would be able to recover the remains of our captives,” the spokesperson said.

American Stance and Disarmament Discussions

While the American leader has acknowledged that some of the remains are hard to reach, he said that “others they can return immediately and, for unknown reasons, they are failing to do so.”

“It may have to do with the surrender of weapons of the group,” he added.

Washington has said it has received guarantees from the organization that the faction will disarm, though no specific schedule has been set. The militant organisation remains reluctant to surrender its arms without solid guarantees about the future of its fighters.