Red Cross to receive coffins of deceased hostages in central Gaza, IDF confirms

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) have confirmed that, according to verified information, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is en route to a designated meeting point in the central Gaza Strip to take custody of several coffins containing the bodies of deceased hostages.

In a joint statement, the IDF urged the public to act with sensitivity and await official identification procedures, noting that the families of the victims will be informed first.

The statement also called on Hamas to uphold its commitments under existing agreements and to take all necessary steps to facilitate the return of the bodies of all deceased hostages.

Hamas announced on October 30 that it will transfer the bodies of two Israeli hostages to Israel this evening as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement. The group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said the handover would take place at 4 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).

Israel’s public broadcaster reported that preparations were underway to receive the remains. The move follows Israeli airstrikes earlier this week that killed more than 100 Palestinians despite the truce, which took effect on October 10 under U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.

Hamas said it has so far released 20 Israeli captives alive and returned the bodies of 17 others under the first phase of the deal, which also calls for the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 68,500 people and injured over 170,600, according to local authorities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev