Red Cross facilitates return of about 30 Palestinian detainees’ remains to Gaza

In a significant humanitarian step under the ongoing implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer and handover of approximately 30 remains of Palestinian detainees who died in 'Israeli' detention, returning them to Gaza on Thursday.

The handover, conducted by the neutral organization, allows Palestinian authorities in Gaza to begin the process of identifying the deceased and returning the remains to their families for proper burial ceremonies.

Medical teams at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which received the remains from the Red Cross, reported that many of the 90 Palestinian bodies returned to Gaza under the ceasefire agreement showed signs of torture and execution. Observations included blindfolded eyes, bound hands, and gunshot wounds to the head.

Doctors told The Guardian that the evidence strongly suggested the victims had been beaten and executed, with no remains identifiable. Dr. Ahmed Al-Fara, head of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital, said: “Almost all of them were blindfolded and bound, with gunshot wounds between the eyes. Nearly all of them were executed.”

He added: “There were also scars and discoloration on the skin indicating they had been beaten prior to death. There were signs of torture even after they were killed.”

Dr. Al-Fara noted that 'Israeli' authorities handed over the remains without identifying the individuals, and Gaza hospitals, damaged by two years of intense conflict, lack the resources for DNA testing. “They know the identities of these bodies, but they want to increase the suffering of the families,” he said.

Nasser Hospital confirmed that the bodies, stored in 'Israel', were returned with numbered labels but no names. Hospital staff requested the help of relatives of missing Palestinians to assist in identifying the remains.