Al-Qassam Brigades — the armed wing of Hamas — transferred on Tuesday evening the remains of several deceased Israeli captives to the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

According to local media sources, an ICRC convoy entered Gaza City in the evening to retrieve the remains from a secure location, completing a carefully coordinated handover process under the supervision of mediators involved in brokering the ongoing ceasefire.

During the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, numerous captives held by Palestinian resistance factions were killed as a direct consequence of the intense and indiscriminate bombardment carried out by Israeli forces. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, and thousands of civilians — including women and children — perished under the rubble, making the recovery of bodies an arduous and dangerous mission.

Mediators familiar with the process confirmed that Hamas and its armed wing have been working tirelessly to locate the bodies of all deceased captives in Gaza, many of whom are buried beneath the ruins left by Israel’s relentless attacks. “The resistance is making continuous efforts, day and night, to retrieve remains despite the vast destruction,” a source said, noting that much of northern Gaza remains inaccessible due to Israeli airstrikes and collapsed infrastructure.

The International Committee of the Red Cross acknowledged the magnitude of the task before them, describing the recovery and repatriation of bodies as a “massive challenge” given the catastrophic conditions across the Strip. “Many of the areas where captives or civilians may have been buried are still heavily damaged or contaminated,” an ICRC spokesperson explained.

Observers say the handover underscores the Palestinian resistance’s commitment to humanitarian principles, even amid one of the most destructive military campaigns in modern history. While Israel continues to be accused of targeting civilians and obstructing aid, the Al-Qassam Brigades’ cooperation with international organizations reflects a stark contrast in conduct between occupier and occupied.

The people of Gaza, still mourning their tens of thousands of martyrs, see such gestures not as concessions but as acts of integrity amid suffering — a message that humanity and discipline endure even under siege. (ILKHA)