Jurist UN chief denounces parading of hostage bodies in Gaza

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A spokesperson for UN Secretary General António Guterres on Thursday denounced the parading of hostage bodies in Gaza by Hamas as against international law. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the release, also urged dignity and privacy before the next release.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that under international law, any handover of a dead person’s remains “must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased – and their families.”

The ICRC added:

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will continue to fulfill the role assigned to us by the parties. This work is a fundamental humanitarian duty. We must be clear: any degrading treatment during release operations is unacceptable. We have repeatedly urged both publicly and privately to those with the responsibility and the authority over these releases, and those with influence on them, to ensure that they are conducted with privacy, respect, and care. This must happen in future release operations.

Caskets of four deceased hostages were released by Hamas after allegedly being paraded before the public. Israel officials have identified and shared the details of three of the four deceased hostages, including 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz as well as 9-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas, young sibling hostages who died in captivity.

Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu released a statement expressing deep national grief over the loss of four hostages. He affirmed Israel’s determination to bring back all hostages, eliminate Hamas, and secure the nation’s future.

International law mandates that parties to an armed conflict must endeavor to return the remains of the deceased upon request by their nation or next of kin, as outlined in the Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocols, and Customary International Humanitarian Law. The return of the dead to their families is a fundamental humanitarian principle, reinforcing dignity and respect. Additionally, personal effects of the deceased, including last wills, money, and sentimental items, must be collected, sealed, and forwarded to their families with a detailed inventory. The prohibition on mutilation of bodies further upholds the deceased’s dignity, ensuring they are treated with honor and respect in armed conflicts.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, a list of hostages to be released on Saturday has been shared with officials.

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