Gaza Condemns Red Cross for “Double Standards” in Handling Israeli and Palestinian Bodies
Palestinian factions accuse the Red Cross of bias in body transfers, while Netanyahu vows to destroy Hamas amid international criticism.
Watan-The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned on Thursday the “double standards” of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regarding the receipt and handover of “the bodies of Israeli prisoners and Palestinian martyrs.”
The office’s director-general, Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated on Platform X:”While the Red Cross holds solemn official ceremonies when receiving the bodies of Israeli prisoners, it delivers the bodies of Palestinian martyrs in blue bags that are thrown into trucks lacking the most basic elements of human dignity.”
Al-Thawabta added that “this blatant discrimination in treatment reflects double standards and exposes the international failure to achieve justice and fairness!”
Red Cross and Gaza Body Transfers
Previously, on September 26, 2024, the Red Cross had stated that it had not participated in transferring Palestinian bodies from Israel to Gaza, in response to media reports.
Al-Thawabta’s condemnation came after Palestinian factions, earlier on Thursday, handed over the bodies of four Israeli prisoners to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
The handover process demonstrated the Palestinian factions’ respect for the sanctity of the dead, as the bodies of the four prisoners were each delivered in a separate coffin with identifying documents.
Gaza Condemns Red Cross for Handling of Bodies
The Red Cross has not commented on Al-Thawabta’s statements. However, the committee responsible for exchanges between Palestinian factions and the Israeli side stated in a Thursday statement that “these operations should be conducted privately out of respect for the deceased and their grieving families.” The statement added, “These families deserve to express their sorrow, and their lost loved ones deserve proper burial ceremonies.”
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described Hamas’ arrangements for handing over the Israeli remains as “shameful and cruel.”
The High Commissioner’s office told journalists: “The procession of bodies we saw this morning was shameful and cruel, contradicting international law. We demand that all handovers be conducted with secrecy, respect, and care.”
The statement continued: “Under international law, any transfer of remains must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” and “ensure respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families.”
Netanyahu Vows Retaliation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed Israel’s anger toward “Hamas monsters,” reiterating his vow to “eliminate” the group.
In a video address, Netanyahu declared:
“We are all outraged by the monsters of Hamas. We will bring back all our hostages, we will eliminate the murderers, we will destroy Hamas, and together… we will secure our future.”
