Gaza’s Government Media Office has accused the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of displaying double standards in handling the remains of deceased Israelis and Palestinians.
“While the Red Cross holds solemn official ceremonies when receiving the bodies of Israeli hostages, it delivers the bodies of Palestinian martyrs in blue bags tossed into trucks that lack the most basic elements of human dignity,” said Ismail Thawabta, head of Gaza’s media office, in a post on X.
He described this as blatant discrimination and evidence of the international community’s failure to uphold justice and fairness.
The Red Cross has not yet responded to the accusation. However, last September, the ICRC denied playing any role in the transfer of Palestinian remains from Israel to Gaza.
The statement comes as Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli captives, claiming they were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The exchange was part of a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement.
Addressing the families of Israeli captives, Hamas stated, “We would have preferred for your sons to return to you alive, but the leaders of your army and government chose to kill them instead.”
