Red Cross Staff Unaware of Staged Hostage Remains Revelation in Gaza,Organization says
GAZA – The International Commitee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated Wednesday that its staff assisting with the recovery of remains in Gaza were unaware that hamas operatives had previously buried and then “discovered” the body of an Israeli hostage as part of a staged event. The revelation comes after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released video footage appearing to show ICRC personnel present during the alleged manipulation.
The ICRC clarified that its role as a neutral intermediary does not include the exhumation of bodies, and its staff were not informed a deceased person had been placed at the site prior to their arrival. This incident raises questions about the transparency of recovery efforts and the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations operating in conflict zones, especially regarding verifying details provided by parties to the conflict.
According to the ICRC, operatives buried remains “removed from a structure that had been prepared in advance” and then staged “a false display of discovering a deceased hostage’s body.” The organization emphasized that the responsibility for recovering human remains lies with the parties involved in the conflict, under international humanitarian law, and that ICRC staff are not involved in the retrieval process itself.
israel’s foreign ministry acknowledged the Red Cross’s condemnation of the alleged staging,but expressed concern over a perceived discrepancy between the organization’s public statements and the footage,questioning weather ICRC staff accurately reported what they witnessed. The ministry called on the ICRC to investigate the matter.
The ICRC has been involved in facilitating the transfer of remains of Israeli hostages recovered from Gaza back to israel. The organization maintains its neutrality and impartiality in its humanitarian work, but the incident underscores the difficulties of operating in a complex and contested environment.
