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UN and Global Leaders Condemn Hamas’s Display of Deceased Hostages, Calling It a Violation of International Law
The United Nations human rights chief has strongly condemned Hamas’s handling of the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages in Gaza, calling the display abhorrent and a blatant violation of international law.
The remains of Israeli infant Kfir Bibas, his four-year-old brother Ariel, their mother Shiri Bibas, and a fourth hostage, Oded Lifschitz, were placed in coffins and publicly displayed on a stage. Armed Hamas militants, clad in black and camouflage uniforms, conducted a staged handover ceremony before transferring the bodies to the Red Cross.
The event took place before an audience that included women and children, as Hamas orchestrated the return of the bodies. During the handover, a Hamas fighter stood beside a poster featuring an image of the Bibas family, accompanied by the inflammatory statement: “The war criminal Netanyahu & His Nazi Army Killed Them With Missiles From Zionist Warplane.” Another masked militant stood in front of a banner displaying coffins wrapped in Israeli flags, with the words: “The Return of the War = The Return of Your Prisoners in Coffins.”
The shocking display has drawn international condemnation. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the ceremony “cruel, despicable, and completely contrary to international law.” He further stated, “Under international law, any handover of the remains of the deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also called for dignity and respect in the handling of the remains. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organization stressed, “We must be clear: any degrading treatment during release operations is unacceptable.”
Hamas has repeatedly held elaborate public ceremonies during hostage releases since the January 19 ceasefire. These staged events, often set against the backdrop of Gaza’s destruction, have drawn increasing criticism from the international community.
Among those voicing strong disapproval was German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. She denounced Hamas’s actions as part of its “limitless terror” after the militant group paraded the four coffins before returning them to Israel. “Four coffins, presented on stage—images that are unbearable,” Baerbock stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Until the very end, the families of the hostages are exposed to Hamas’s limitless terror. My thoughts are with them. Hopefully, they are soon able to mourn their loved ones and bury them with dignity.”
The deaths of the Bibas family members and Oded Lifschitz have further fueled outrage and deepened the anguish of Israeli families still waiting for the return of their loved ones. The Israeli government has accused Hamas of using hostages—both living and dead—as propaganda tools in its ongoing conflict. The latest handover comes amid continued negotiations for the release of other captives, with growing pressure on international mediators to intervene.
Meanwhile, Hamas claims that Israeli airstrikes were responsible for the deaths of the Bibas family, a claim that has been fiercely disputed by Israeli authorities. The ongoing war has left families on both sides in mourning, with repeated calls for an end to the suffering and the return of all remaining hostages.
As the world reacts with horror to the latest developments, human rights organizations and governments continue to call for respect for humanitarian law. The treatment of hostages and their remains has emerged as yet another tragic chapter in the escalating conflict, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution that prioritizes human dignity and the protection of innocent lives.