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Returning hostage bodies from Gaza may take time, Red Cross says
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 14, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 14, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
The Red Cross warns of delays in returning hostage bodies from Gaza, citing challenges in recovery amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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.
"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)
Humanitarian aid refers to assistance provided to people in need, especially during crises such as wars or natural disasters, aimed at saving lives and alleviating suffering.
An international organization is an entity established by multiple countries to work together on common goals, such as the United Nations, which focuses on peace, security, and cooperation.
Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks followed by coordinated efforts to minimize, monitor, and control the probability of unfortunate events.
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial institutions or assets drops significantly, leading to a loss of confidence and potential economic downturn.
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