Red Cross en route to collect bodies of deceased captives from Hamas in Gaza.

‘Israeli’ Defense Minister Katz said delaying return of bodies would violate the exchange agreement.

 

The ‘Israeli’ army said Monday that the Red Cross was on its way to collect the remains of a number of dead captives held in Gaza, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. 

 

"According to information received, the Red Cross is on its way to the meeting point in the southern Gaza Strip, where several coffins of deceased hostages will be transferred into their custody," the army said in a joint statement with the Shin Bet security agency.

 

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The armed wing of Hamas had said earlier that it would only hand over four bodies out of the 28 that are held in Gaza on Monday.

 

Defense Minister Israel Katz said if Hamas intentionally delays the return of deceased captives’ bodies, it would violate the exchange agreement.

 

“Hamas’s announcement of the expected return of four bodies today constitutes a failure to meet its commitments,” Katz claimed. “Any delay or deliberate avoidance will be considered a blatant violation of the agreement and will be met accordingly.”