A view of the destruction following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip’s largest health complex, Al-Shifa Hospital, and its surroundings in Gaza City, Gaza, on April 21, 2024. Photo credit – Mahmoud Issa – Anadolu via Getty Images
MLast weekend, ass graves containing hundreds of bodies were discovered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, raising serious concerns about war crimes, according to the OHCHR, the United Nations human rights office.
Much is still unknown about the victims, but the discovery of the bodies came after Israeli troops completed their two-week operation at Al-Shifa Hospital in early April. The hospital, which was once the region’s main tertiary facility before October 7, has since been reduced to “an empty shell.” Similarly, troops also raided Nasser Hospital, claiming their intelligence revealed that Hamas was holding hostages at the medical center.
“Hospitals enjoy very special protection under international humanitarian law. And the intentional killing of civilians, prisoners and others out of action [out of combat or action] is a war crime,” said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Attacks on hospitals are one of six serious violations monitored and reported by the UN Security Council. However, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, hospitals can lose their special protection if “they are used by a party to the conflict to commit a ‘hostile act’ outside of their humanitarian function.” What constitutes an act harmful to the enemy is not defined in international humanitarian law. However, the Red Cross cites as an example “the placement of a medical facility or unit near a military target with the intent of shielding it from enemy military operations.”
Read more: The fight to save lives in hospitals in the Gaza Strip
Türk called for an independent investigation into the matter and reiterated his support for an immediate ceasefire. The European Union on Tuesday backed his call for an independent investigation into the mass graves.
“Among the deceased were said to be elderly people, women and the wounded, while others were found with their hands tied… bound and stripped of their clothing,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Shamdasani said local health authorities in Gaza also reported that about 30 Palestinians were buried in two graves in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital. At least twelve victims were identified, but identification of others was not possible.
Colonel Yamen Abu Suleiman, director of civil defense in Khan Younis, told CNN that some of the bodies may have been “buried alive or executed” and that most of them were decomposed. Some family members also told CNN that they were unable to find their loved ones’ remains after Israeli troops attacked the hospital.
Nadav Shoshani, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, called claims that Israeli troops had buried Palestinians in mass graves “misinformation.”
“The grave in question was dug by residents of the Gaza Strip several months ago. This fact is confirmed by the social media documents uploaded by Gaza residents at the time of the funeral,” 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 buried those near Nasser Hospital I examined bodies to ensure there were no hostages or missing people among the victims. He says All remains were “Respectfully returned to their place.” Gaza authorities confirm that graves were dug before the Israeli military arrived, but claim that troops placed bodies at the grave site. TIME has not independently verified claims about the cause of death of any individual.
According to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry, more than 34,000 Palestinians were killed and another 77,368 people were injured in Gaza.
The White House has expressed concern about the matter. “We want answers,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a news conference Wednesday. “We want this to be investigated thoroughly and transparently.”
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