The United Nations human rights chief has strongly criticized the public display of hostages’ remains in Gaza, calling it “abhorrent” and a violation of international law.

On Thursday, Hamas organized a public event in Khan Yunis, located in southern Gaza, to return the bodies of four Israeli hostages—Shiri, Ariel, Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz. The remains were placed in black coffins and paraded before being transferred to the Red Cross. The event drew a large crowd, including children, infants, and recently released Palestinian prisoners.

International Outrage Over the Incident

The display has triggered global condemnation and widespread grief. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasized that such actions violate international law, which mandates the dignified handling of human remains.

“Under international law, any handover of the remains of deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” Türk stated, as reported by Reuters.

Comparisons to Historical Atrocities

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s former ambassador to the United Nations and the United States, made a historical comparison in his response to the event. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Erdan stated:

“Even in Nazi Germany, there were Germans who saved Jews. Not a single Gazan saved a single hostage.”

He continued, saying that many so-called “innocent” civilians in Gaza had taken part in the hostage-taking and killings, and that others had publicly celebrated the return of Jewish victims in coffins.

Calls for the Release of Hostages

Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, condemned the handling of the hostage return, stating on X:

“Civilians should never be exchanged as pawns in a power game. All hostages and arbitrarily detained civilians must be released without conditions.”

‘Pure Evil’

UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis also weighed in, denouncing both the hostage-taking and the way the bodies were returned.

“It is pure evil to take a mother and her young children and an elderly man hostage. It takes another layer of evil to be responsible for their deaths,” Mirvis wrote on X.

“And yet a further layer of evil to trade their bodies to release hundreds of prisoners, including terrorists serving life sentences for murder. This is what Israel is up against.”

Remembering Oded Lifshitz

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid tribute to Oded Lifshitz, one of the hostages returned by Hamas.

“The NUJ extends its condolences to the family of Oded Lifshitz. Today, Hamas completed handing over four deceased hostages to the Red Cross, and journalist Lifshitz was among them,” the organization stated.

Lifshitz, a longtime advocate for Palestinian rights, previously worked for the newspaper Al HaMishmar and extensively covered the Bedouin community in Israel. His legal efforts contributed to the return of some land to Bedouin families, according to The Jerusalem Post.

‘May Their Souls Rest in Peace’

Israeli Ambassador to France Joshua L. Zarka expressed his sorrow on social media, writing:

“On this day of mourning, may the melody of Oded’s piano accompany us, and may the laughter of Ariel and Kfir Bibas resonate in our hearts. After more than 500 days held in the gates of hell, may their souls rest in peace.”

Meanwhile, German parliament member Lamya Kaddor also expressed grief over the deaths, stating:

“The news of the death of the Bibas family is unbearable. The perfidious spectacle of the hostage handover is also unbearable. My thoughts today are with father Yarden Bibas, who himself was freed from Hamas captivity only three weeks ago.”