United Nations Calls for Investigation into Mass Graves Discovered at Two Gaza Hospitals
The U.N. Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, expressed horror at reports of mass graves being found around An Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.
The United Nations is calling for an “independent, effective, and transparent investigation” into the discovery of mass graves at these hospitals, which were previously raided by Israeli armed forces.
Mr. Turk stated that he was horrified by the destruction of the hospitals and the reports of mass graves. He emphasized the need for international investigators in light of the prevailing impunity.
He also emphasized the special protection that hospitals are entitled to under international humanitarian law and denounced the intentional killing of civilians as a war crime.
Mr. Turk further called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas conflict, unrestricted humanitarian aid access to Gaza, and the release of hostages and detainees held arbitrarily.
The mass graves contained bodies of Palestinian victims who were reportedly found stripped naked with their hands tied, raising concerns about possible war crimes.
The report indicated that hundreds of bodies were discovered buried deep in the ground and covered with waste at the hospitals, with Nasser hospital alone accounting for 283 bodies.
The Palestinian civil defense in Gaza uncovered the bodies at a temporary burial ground inside the main hospital in Khan Younis, which was established during the Israeli siege in March.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani reported that 30 Palestinian bodies, some with their hands tied, were found buried in Al-Shifa hospital.
She highlighted that among the deceased were older people, women, and wounded individuals, with some found tied and stripped of their clothes.
The Israeli military claimed they exhumed bodies buried by Palestinians during their search for hostages captured by Hamas, while also stating that bodies not belonging to Israeli hostages were returned.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressed the need for a ceasefire, access for humanitarians, protection for hospitals, and independent investigations into the mass graves, calling the discoveries extremely troubling.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began with a Hamas attack in October 2023, resulting in numerous casualties and escalating violence.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
