Bodies of Palestinian prisoners delivered in trucks: Red Cross criticized for duplicity in Gaza

The Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip condemned, on Thursday, the “double standards” of the International Committee of the Red Cross during the receipt and delivery of “the bodies of Israeli prisoners and Palestinian martyrs.”

The Director General of the Media Office, Ismail Al-Thawabta, said via the X platform: “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 that lack the most basic elements of human dignity.”

Al-Thawabta added that this blatant discrimination in treatment reflects double standards and exposes the international inability to achieve justice and fairness!

⛔ While the Red Cross holds solemn official ceremonies to receive the bodies of Israeli prisoners, it delivers the bodies of Palestinian martyrs in blue bags that are thrown into trucks that lack the most basic elements of human dignity. This blatant discrimination in treatment reflects double standards and exposes the international inability to achieve justice… pic.twitter.com/NjvKzUr53h

— Dr. Ismail Al-Thawabta #Gaza (@ismailalthwabta) February 20, 2025

The Red Cross had previously announced on September 26, 2024, that it did not participate in the transfer of Palestinian bodies from Israel to Gaza, in response to media reports.

The condemnation came from the Palestinian factions after the Palestinian factions handed over, earlier on Thursday, the bodies of 4 Israeli prisoners to the Red Cross in Khan Yunis, south of Gaza.

The handover process showed the Palestinian factions' respect for the sanctity of the dead, by handing over the bodies of the four prisoners, each in a separate coffin with his data.

The Red Cross did not comment on Thabet’s statements, but the committee responsible for the exchanges between the Palestinian factions and the Israeli side said in a statement on Thursday that “these operations should be carried out in a private framework out of respect for the dead and their grieving families,” adding, “These families deserve to express their grief, and for their lost loved ones to receive a proper burial.”

Paradox!

How does the Red Cross hand over the bodies of Palestinians and Israelis? pic.twitter.com/iAWpPCo369

— Quds News Network (@qudsn) February 20, 2025

For its part, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights described Hamas’s arrangements to hand over the remains of the Israelis as “shameful and cruel.”

“The procession of bodies we saw this morning is outrageous, cruel and contrary to international law,” the UNHCR told reporters. “We ask that all handovers be conducted with confidentiality, respect and care.”

“Under international law, any handover 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,” the commission continued.

In turn, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed Israel's anger at the "monsters of Hamas," reiterating his threat to "eliminate" the movement.

“We are all angry with the monsters of Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a video address, adding, “We will return all our hostages, we will eliminate the murderers, we will eliminate Hamas, and together… we will secure our future.”

Source: Agencies