Jerusalem (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in an overnight operation returned the remains of four deceased people to Israel and 537 Palestinian detainees to Gaza and the West Bank. In total 642 detainees were released today from places of detention in Israel. The ICRC overnight also returned the remains of another deceased person back to Gaza from Israel following an initial transfer on 20 February. This comes after six hostages were released and returned to Israel on 22 February.

Over the past five weeks, the ceasefire agreement has allowed for families to be reunited and for the deceased to be brought back to their loved ones for proper burials. More humanitarian aid has also entered Gaza, where countless lives depend on it.

As a neutral humanitarian intermediary, the ICRC remains committed to its role in facilitating further releases upon the agreement of the parties to ensure that all hostages are freed, more detainees are reunited with their families, and life-saving humanitarian work can continue.