The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday urged all parties to ensure dignified treatment of the deceased as it works to recover and return human remains from Gaza under the current ceasefire agreement, warning the task presents significant logistical and humanitarian challenges.
The humanitarian group noted that families who have lost loved ones have already been through unimaginable sorrow and asked Israel and Palestinian groups to make sure that returns are done in a respectful way.
The humanitarian organization said families grieving the loss of loved ones have already endured unimaginable pain, and called on Israel and Palestinian groups to ensure returns are conducted under dignified conditions.
The group said, “All parties must make sure that the return of human remains is done in a way that is respectful and upholds dignity and humanity.”
The ICRC said that returning remains to bereaved families was a key part of fully carrying out the ceasefire agreement. It told the parties and the mediators to make sure that the agreement is followed.
The exchanges on Monday
On Monday, the ICRC facilitated the safe return of 20 hostages to Israeli authorities and 1,808 Palestinian detainees to Gaza and the West Bank. A total of 1,968 detainees were released that day, with the organization conducting pre-release interviews for all individuals. The ICRC also transferred remains of four deceased hostages to Israeli authorities.
During the transports, specialized ICRC professionals, including doctors, provided rapid medical care as needed. Before the captives were sent back, the ICRC interviewed them all.
According to its records, the group has helped free 172 hostages and 3,472 captives since October 2023 as part of different ceasefire accords.
Context of the war
The conflict began after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel and expanded into a prolonged war in Gaza. By early October 2025, Israeli authorities reported at least 1,665 Israelis and foreign nationals killed since the start of the war, including about 1,200 on Oct. 7; the Israeli military counts hundreds of soldiers killed since ground operations began. Gaza has suffered tens of thousands of deaths and large-scale devastation
Cease-fire and Trump’s peace push
The talks occur a year after Hamas-led militants killed almost 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and took about 250 hostages to Gaza. According to local health officials, Israel’s next military assault has killed more over 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza and turned most of the land into rubble.
Over the weekend and into Monday, the last living Israeli hostages were released in a multi-party deal brokered with Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar alongside the United States. President Donald Trump hailed the breakthrough but said the process is not finished while the remains of the dead are still outstanding.
President Donald Trump has been credited by Israeli officials with helping push forward negotiations that led to the current pause in fighting.
Trump had already warned that there would be consequences if the hostages were not returned quickly.
The ICRC stressed that its work shows how neutral third parties may help people make life-saving agreements when they are willing to talk. The group highlighted that everyone involved must keep their promises to respect human dignity and seek to alleviate the suffering of civilians on all sides.
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