The operation started at 17h00, at the Rosh Haniqra / Naqura border between Israel and Lebanon, and lasted three hours. It involved the handing over of an unidentified body, said by the Israeli side to be a Hezbollah fighter taken from the battlefield in South Lebanon during the hostilities of the summer 2006. It was the first time since the conflict that such an operation took place.

At the same time the Lebanese side handed over a body, said to be that of the missing Israeli civilian Gabriel Dawit. After an Israeli forensics team confirmed the identity, the body of another Lebanese was passed to the Lebanese side, through the ICRC. Shortly afterwards, a Lebanese detainee was also handed over as part of the pre-agreed operation between the parties.

On the ground, the ICRC was the focal point for the hand-overs and for settling last-minute details between the parties, shuttling back and forth across the blue line that divides the Lebanese/Israeli border. We also spoke with the Lebanese detainee privately before his return to ensure that he understood the situation and was indeed willing to return to Lebanon. Once this was confirmed, we escorted him across the border.

What does the ICRC presence add in a situation like this?

The added value of the ICRC is substantial as it would be difficult to execute such a delicate and sensitive operation without a neutral intermediary fully trusted by both sides. The ICRC's role, its neutrality and its policy of confidentiality provide the necessary assurances that strengthen confidence building and reduce the risk of negotiations derailing.

We ensured that the hand-over between the parties was carried out in a transparent and reliable manner. All aspects relating to the operation were agreed to by both parties as well as by the ICRC.

Does the return of mortal remains fall within the ICRC's mandate ?

This is one of the ICRC's longstanding humanitarian activities, particularly in this region. Families are entitled to respect for their religious convictions and practices and their customs.

The ICRC recognises the importance to the relatives of the restitution of remains, in order to enable them to bury their dead in accordance with their religion. This is consistent with international humanitarian law, which says that parties to the conflict must try to facilitate the return of the remains of the deceased. For a family it is important to be able to bury a dead relative; it is a vital element in coping with their grief.