GENEVA (Reuters) -The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Tuesday it will take time to hand over the remains of hostages and detainees killed in the Israel-Hamas war, calling it a “massive challenge” given the difficulties of finding bodies amid Gaza’s rubble.
Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages from Gaza on Monday under a ceasefire deal and Israel sent home busloads of Palestinian detainees as U.S. President Donald Trump declared an end to the two-year war.
But only four coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages have so far been returned to Israel, leaving more than 20 bodies yet to be located and returned.
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“That’s an even bigger challenge than having the people alive being released. That’s a massive challenge,” said the ICRC’s spokesperson Christian Cardon, adding it could take days or weeks and that there was a possibility they would never be found.
“I think that there is clearly a risk that that will take much more time. What are we telling the parties is that that should be their top priority,” he added.
He declined to answer further details about the possible whereabouts of the deceased hostages, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing operation.
(Reporting by Emma FargeEditing by Ludwig Burger and Madeline Chambers)
