The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has voiced his horror over the reported discovery of mass graves at two hospitals in Gaza. The graves, which were uncovered at Shifa Medical Centre in Gaza City and Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis following the withdrawal of Israeli troops, contain the remains of hundreds of people.
Türk called for a clear, transparent, and credible investigation into the killings, emphasizing that hospitals are entitled to special protection under international humanitarian law. He also condemned the intentional killing of civilians, detainees, and others who are hors de combat (non-combatants) as a war crime.
The UN has requested full access to the sites for credible investigators to conduct an impartial investigation. Palestinian officials have stated that they exhumed 283 bodies from a temporary burial ground at Nasser, which was established when Israeli forces besieged the facility last month. The Palestinian civil defense explained that people were unable to bury the dead in a cemetery at the time and instead dug graves in the hospital yard.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that its forces exhumed bodies that Palestinians had buried earlier as part of their search for the remains of hostages captured by Hamas. The military asserted that the bodies were examined respectfully, and those not belonging to Israeli hostages were returned to their place.
The discovery of the mass graves has raised concerns about the conduct of the Israeli-Gaza war, which has been the deadliest period for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) began gathering data in 1992. At least 97 journalists and media workers have been identified among the high death toll in Gaza, according to the CPJ’s most recent data.
The UN has also urged that more journalists be allowed to work safely in Gaza to report on the events. The issue of who should conduct an investigation into the killings remains unresolved. The United Nations Security Council or the International Criminal Court could potentially authorize an investigation, but the issue of access and credibility must be addressed.
The discovery of the mass graves has added urgency to calls for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with around 80% of the territory’s population displaced and two-thirds of the death toll reportedly comprising children and women.
