MGraves containing hundreds of bodies were discovered last weekend at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, raising serious concerns about war crimesaccording to OHCHRthe UN human rights office.
Not much is yet known about the victims, but the discovery of the bodies comes after Israeli troops ended their two-week operation at Al-Shifa Hospital in early April. The hospital, which was once the region’s main tertiary center before October 7, has since been reduced to “an empty shell.” Troops also similarly raided Nasser Hospital, claiming that their intelligence showed that Hamas was holding hostages at the medical center.
“Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law. And the intentional killing of civilians, detainees and others who are out of combat [out of combat or action] it is a war crime,” said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Attacks on hospitals are one of six serious violations the UN Security Council monitors and reports. However, hospitals can lose their special protections if “they are used by a party to the conflict to commit, outside of their humanitarian functions, an ‘act harmful to the enemy’” according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. What constitutes an act harmful to the enemy is not defined in international humanitarian law. However, the Red Cross lists “the placement of a medical establishment or unit in proximity to a military objective with the intention of protecting it from enemy military operations” as an example.
See more information: The fight to save lives inside Gaza hospitals
Turk has called for an independent investigation on the matter and reiterated its support for an immediate ceasefire. The European Union backed his call for an independent investigation into the mass graves on Tuesday.
“Among the deceased were reportedly elderly, women and injured, while others were found tied with their hands… bound and naked,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Shamdasani shared that local health authorities in Gaza also reported that around 30 Palestinians were buried in two graves in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital. At least 12 victims were identified, although identification of others was not possible.
Colonel Yamen Abu Suleiman, Director of Civil Defense in Khan Younis, told CNN that some of the bodies were possibly “buried alive or executed” and that most of them were decomposed. Some family members also told CNN that they were unable to locate their loved ones’ remains after Israeli troops attacked the hospital.
Nadav Shoshani, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, called the claim that Israeli troops buried Palestinians in mass graves “misinformation.”
“The grave in question was dug – by Gazans – a few months ago. This fact is corroborated by social media documentation sent by Gazans at the time of the burial,” he said. tweeted on April 24th. “Any attempt to blame Israel for burying civilians in mass graves is categorically false and a mere example of a disinformation campaign aimed at delegitimizing Israel.” Shoshani added that military personnel examined the bodies buried near Nasser Hospital to make sure there were no hostages or missing people among the victims. He says all the remains were “respectfully returned to their place.” Gaza authorities claim that the graves were previously dug before the arrival of the Israeli military, but allege that troops added bodies to the tomb. TIME has not independently verified claims about the cause of death of individuals.
More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and another 77,368 people injured in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry.
The White House expressed concern about the matter. “We want answers,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during a press conference Wednesday. “We want to see this investigated thoroughly and transparently.”
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