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

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

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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.

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