The United Nations Office for Human Rights called on Tuesday for an independent and effective investigation into the deaths that occurred in two Gaza hospitals, now destroyed, which were besieged by the Israeli army and where mass graves were found. “Given the prevailing climate of impunity, this should include international investigators,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who said he was horrified by the devastation of the Al Naser hospital complexes in southern Gaza. , and Al Shifa, in the north.
“Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law. The intentional killing of civilians, detainees and other people who are hors de combat is a war crime,” he stressed.
According to information from the Gaza authorities transmitted to the Human Rights Office, 283 bodies could be recovered at the Al Naser hospital, of which 42 have been identified. The victims would have been buried at a certain depth in an area that was covered with debris.
“Among the dead it is indicated that there are elderly, women and children, while some were found with their hands tied,” said the spokesperson for the UN Human Rights body, Ravina Shamdasani.
At the Al Shifa hospital, reports indicate that thirty bodies of Palestinians were found buried in two graves dug in courtyards adjacent to the emergency building and the dialysis building, respectively. “The Israeli defense forces have said they killed 200 Palestinians during their operation at Al Shifa hospital, but there are reports indicating that this figure could be underestimated,” the spokeswoman said.
