DaysofPal – The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Tuesday that the bodies of 45 Palestinians, handed over by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), were received at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
Medical officials reported that the bodies bore unmistakable signs of field executions, torture, and severe abuse. Many victims were reportedly found blindfolded, with their hands bound, indicating they were subjected to grave violations before being killed.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health condemned what it described as “gruesome war crimes that reflect the brutality of the occupation,” accusing Israel of carrying out a campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people.
It called on international human rights organizations to conduct an independent investigation into the extrajudicial killings and hold Israel accountable for its systematic violations of international humanitarian law.
The ICRC confirmed that it would provide the ministry with the names of the deceased once verification and documentation procedures were completed. Since early morning, families of missing Palestinians have gathered at the Nasser Medical Complex in an effort to identify their loved ones.
Mahmoud al-Zaqout, Director General of Hospitals in the Gaza Strip, said some bodies remained unrecognizable due to the extent of the mutilation, and that a special committee was working to confirm their identities. He added that the ministry will publish a list of the victims’ names once received from the ICRC, enabling families to proceed with burials.
Al-Zaqout also noted that more bodies are expected to be handed over to Gaza authorities in the coming days through the Red Cross.
The latest transfer comes as part of a broader arrangement between Hamas and Israel, which includes the formation of an international committee to identify the burial sites of slain Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, the ICRC announced that it had facilitated the exchange of 20 living Israeli prisoners and four bodies, along with the release of 1,809 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel since 1968, under the terms of the current ceasefire agreement.
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