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Palestinian Civil Defense demands investigation into 392 bodies found in mass graves in Gaza hospitals

The Palestinian civil protection team on Thursday asked the United Nations to investigate war crimes at a Gaza hospital, saying 392 bodies were recovered from mass graves after Israeli troops abandoned the compound following four months of bombardment and fighting in the area. went. “There have been cases of some patients being killed on the ground during surgery at the Nasser Medical Complex and while wearing surgical gowns,” Civil Defense forces said in a press conference, citing no evidence.

Palestinian officials this week reported the discovery of hundreds of bodies in mass graves dug in the courtyard of Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis’ main medical center. These include children and women and many have their hands tied and the probes still attached to their bodies.

On 1 April, it was also reported that more bodies were found in Al Shifa hospital in northern Gaza, which was the target of an Israeli special forces operation. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday he was “horrified” by the destruction of medical facilities in Nasser and Al Shifa and reports of these mass burials.

The Israeli military has denied allegations by Palestinian officials that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had buried the bodies. Israel claimed that its forces were searching for Israeli hostages and that they had examined bodies previously buried by Palestinians near Nasser Hospital, and returned them after investigation. “The examination was carried out carefully and specifically in places where intelligence services had indicated the possible presence of hostages. The investigation was conducted respectfully while maintaining the dignity of the deceased, the army said in a statement.

Israel has also denied killing those found in the graves and has released photographs, saying that Palestinians were digging these graves before the IDF operation. However, the Palestinian Civil Defense team has accused Israel of wrapping many of the bodies in plastic bags and burying them three meters below, where they quickly decomposed, thereby hiding evidence of its “crimes”, including torture.

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague are investigating both sides of the war between Israel and Gaza, including the events of October 7 and their consequences. (Reuters)