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UN calls for investigation into mass graves in Israel raid on two Gaza hospitals
People and health workers dig up bodies found at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on April 23, 2024 (Photo – / AFP via Getty Images)
The United Nations has called for an “independent, effective and transparent investigation” into the discovery of mass graves at two Gaza hospital complexes after they were besieged and attacked by Israeli troops earlier this year.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was “horrified” by Nasser and the reported scenes at the al-Shifa compound.
“Given the current climate of impunity, this should be covered by international investigators,” Turki said on Tuesday.
He said, “Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law. And the deliberate killing of civilians, detainees and others during war is a war crime.”
A mass grave containing 324 bodies was discovered at the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis by Gaza civil defense workers following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area this week.
In early April, health workers removed bodies from mass graves in al-Shifa after they said Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians and left their bodies to rot during a two-week siege of the compound in northern Gaza. Gave.
According to Gaza Civil Defense, at least 381 bodies were recovered from al-Shifa after Israeli forces withdrew on 1 April.
Palestinian forensic and civil defense workers recovered human remains from the compound of Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital on 8 April. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)
The US State Department on Tuesday expressed concern over the “disturbing” discovery of mass graves.
US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said, “The reports are incredibly concerning. And we are investigating with the government of Israel.”
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