The United Nations called for “a clear, transparent and credible investigation” of mass graves uncovered at two major hospitals in war-torn Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops. Credible investigators must have access to the sites, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Sderot

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

The United Nations has demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the discovery of mass graves at two major hospitals in Gaza, which have been implicated in a conflict. The UN's call emphasizes the necessity for reputable investigators to gain access to the sites and highlights the need for journalists to be able to safely report on the situation in Gaza to ensure accurate dissemination of facts, as stated by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

At the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, a predominant health facility, local authorities are in the process of exhuming bodies from mass graves. According to Gaza's civil defense, these graves were a temporary solution due to the Israeli military encirclement of the hospital earlier in the year which prevented access to the usual burial sites. With over 300 bodies unearthed, accusations have emerged stating that some of the casualties were a result of an Israeli military raid on the hospital.

The Israeli military has refuted claims of burying Palestinian bodies at Nasser Hospital. They have admitted to exhuming bodies but assert this was solely to identify if any hostages were among the deceased. The process, they claim, was carried out sensitively and focused on areas where intelligence suggested hostages might be found. Bodies not identified as Israeli hostages were reportedly returned to their original resting places.

Additionally, mass graves have been reported at al-Shifa Hospital, indicating a broader issue within the region. The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed its deep concern upon hearing of the graves' discovery. The details emerging from these findings, such as reports of some victims having their hands tied, raise significant questions about violations of both international human rights and humanitarian law.

The UN's call for an unambiguous, transparent, and credible investigation into these matters underscores a broader concern regarding accountability and the ongoing cycle of impunity surrounding grave violations in conflict zones.



U.N. calls for investigation into Gaza mass graves

In the yard of Nasser Hospital, southern Gaza's main health facility, local authorities continue to exhume bodies from mass graves. Gaza's civil defence says bodies were buried here temporarily when Israeli forces surrounded the hospital in January. At the time, people could not access the cemetery in Hanounis. But having dug up more than 300 bodies, it says some of them were people killed when Israeli soldiers raided the hospital last month. We were surprised when we came to take the bodies out that there was a very large number. This indicates that there was a massacre and a crime committed within the walls of Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military says claims that it buried Palestinian bodies at Nasser Hospital are baseless, but it did acknowledge digging up some bodies at the site to check if any hostages were among them. The examination was conducted in a careful manner and exclusively in places where intelligence indicated the possible presence of hostages. Bodies examined, which did not belong to Israeli hostages, were returned to their place. Mass graves were also reported at the al-Shifa Hospital following an operation by Israeli forces. On Tuesday, the United Nations Human Rights Office said it was horrified by the reported discoveries. There's a history here of impunity for gross violations and so many of them have gone undetected and unreported on. There are reports that some of them had their hands tied, which of course indicates serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The UN has called for a clear, transparent and credible investigation.

Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled that out.

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Australian police said they have shot dead a boy after he stabbed a man in Western Australia's capital Perth, in an attack authorities said indicated terrorism.

Perth

Australian police shoot boy dead after stabbing

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London

Sadiq Khan elected London mayor for third term

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State of Rio Grande do Sul

Climate Crisis

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Students at the University of California in Irvine say they will remain on campus until all their demands are met. School officials say they'll continue to negotiate with the protesters -- and are hoping to reach a deal soon.

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Baja California

Mexican authorities lay charges over Australian brothers' disappearance

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Five Palestinian fighters killed during West Bank raid

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Ukraine is eagerly waiting for Western aid as Russia racks up more victories on the battlefield. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on a visit to Kyiv gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use British weapons to strike directly at Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

U.K. allows its weapons to be used on Russian soil

Canadian police have charged three Indian men with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year and said they were probing whether the men had ties to the Indian government.

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China has launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

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Britain's opposition Labour Party won a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (May 3) and control of several councils, inflicting heavy losses on the governing Conservatives to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

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Ankara

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Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

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U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

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Israel-Gaza War