On Thursday, Hamas handed over four deceased hostages to the Red Cross, signifying progress in the initial phase of the truce between the militant organization and Israel.
An Israeli security official verified the handover that occurred in the Gaza Strip, with mediation from Egyptian intermediaries facilitating the transfer of the coffins, which Israeli authorities have started to identify.
Simultaneously, Israel released numerous Palestinian inmates following a prior postponement. The transportation of the detainees was aided by Red Cross convoys.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office previously confirmed the exchange on Wednesday, noting that it was likely to take place without the humiliating “ceremonies” that Hamas has engaged in prior.
Red Cross vehicles, carrying the bodies of four Israeli hostages, leave pickup point after Hamas hands over the bodies without a ceremony in Gaza on February 27, 2025. The bodies were expected to be handed over in the first phase of the hostage swap agreement. (Abdallah F.s. Alattar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Under international law, any handover of the remains of [the] deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” the United Nations Geneva said on X last week, attributing the quote to High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Israeli United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon told Fox News Digital that Hamas’ “ceremonies” were “evil and depraved.”
Buses carrying Palestinian security prisoners are greeted by a crowd after being released from an Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement with Israel, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
“For 16 months, Israel has been fighting a deranged terrorist organization that places no value on human life, especially if it is Israeli or Jewish — all while international institutions like the U.N. refrained from condemning Hamas and formally demanding the immediate return of our hostages,” Danon said.
The Associated Press and Fox News’ Rachel Wolf and Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.
