An increasing number of international bodies are demanding an independent inquiry into mass graves discovered at Gaza hospitals after Israeli troops withdrew, revealing hundreds more Palestinian deaths as Israel’s military offensive in Gaza enters its 200th day. Health officials in Gaza reported finding over 300 bodies at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, and even more bodies were uncovered at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The bodies found were identified as civilians and healthcare workers, contradicting Israeli claims that they were militant fighters.
There have been reports of bodies found in the mass graves without organs, skin, or heads, leading to accusations of horrific acts of violence carried out against civilians in the hospitals. Witnesses described scenes of mass killings, arbitrary arrests, and civilians being turned into makeshift graveyards due to the siege imposed by Israeli forces at the hospitals. The Gaza Civil Defense reported that most of the bodies found at Nasser came from a temporary burial ground inside the hospital, as access to cemeteries was blocked by Israeli forces.
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported witnessing medics exhuming hundreds of bodies at al-Shifa Hospital, with many victims appearing to have been subjected to premeditated murder and extrajudicial executions while detained. Despite Israeli denials of burying Palestinian bodies, there are calls for an independent investigation into the discovered grave sites. The U.N. human rights chief expressed horror at the destruction of hospitals and the presence of mass graves, emphasizing the need for international investigators to ensure accountability for war crimes committed.
The absence of forensic experts and the destruction of Gaza’s medical sector due to the conflict and blockade have created obstacles to identifying the remains in the mass graves. International bodies like Amnesty International and the EU have called for transparent inquiries into the mass graves, while the U.S. State Department has expressed concern and plans to seek more information from the Israeli government. The high number of fatalities, injuries, and displacement caused by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has created an urgent need for international action to investigate and address the humanitarian crisis in the region.
