The United Nations (UN) has strongly condemned the destruction of al-Shifa Hospital, the largest in Gaza City, and the Nasser Medical Complex, the second-largest, in Khan Younis, during the Israeli sieges of Gaza. The UN rights office expressed horror at the devastation and demanded an independent, effective, and transparent investigation into the deaths of civilians. According to the Palestinian Civil Defence agency, health workers discovered over 200 bodies of people killed and buried at Nasser hospital, which was besieged by Israeli troops in March. Israel’s military, however, has rejected the allegations, stating that it exhumed corpses to search for hostages taken by Hamas in October 2022. The military claims that the examination was conducted respectfully and with dignity, and that bodies were returned to their original burial places. However, the UN remains concerned about the allegations of mass graves and emphasizes the need for international investigators, given the prevailing climate of impunity. According to the World Health Organization, al-Shifa Hospital was destroyed by an Israeli siege in early April, leaving behind an empty shell containing numerous bodies. The UN rights office reiterates that hospitals are protected under international law and that the intentional killing of civilians and detainees constitutes a war crime. The office acknowledges that it does not have independent access to verify the reports but is working to corroborate the details provided by Gaza authorities. Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani reported that victims were buried deep in the ground and covered with waste, and that some bodies were found with their hands tied and stripped of clothing. The UN has confirmed approximately 30 bodies buried in two graves in al-Shifa’s courtyard and is investigating reports that some of these bodies also had their hands tied. The exact number of casualties remains unverified, but the UN urges an in-depth investigation to uncover the truth and prevent such atrocities from being swept under the rug in the face of this horrifying conflict.
UN Demands International Probe into Alleged Mass Graves in Gaza Hospitals
