Hamas’ staged handover of the remains of
four Gaza hostages to Israel was “abhorrent and cruel”, the UN said, with the Red Cross again pleading for transfers to take place privately.
“The parading of bodies in the manner seen this morning is abhorrent and cruel, and flies in the face of international law,” said UN human rights chief Volker Turk.
“We urge that all returns are conducted in privacy, and with respect and care,” he added.
It was the first handover of dead hostages under a fragile ceasefire that so far had only seen living captives exchanged for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.