UN urges international probe into mass graves near Gaza hospitals

NEW YORK: The United Nations (UN) called for an “urgent international investigation” into reports of mass graves discovered at two hospitals in Gaza on Tuesday. The UN stated that war crimes “may have” been committed during Israeli sieges.

Al-Shafa Hospital in Gaza Strip and Al-Nasr Hospital in Khan Yunis were subjected to Israeli siege that resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life.

Read more: Israel hands over bodies of Palestinians killed in Gaza for burial

The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed horror at the devastation inflicted upon these medical facilities, which are vital for providing healthcare services to the civilian population amidst the on-going war.

The reports of mass graves shocked most of the world, with even the United States (US) describing the reports as “deeply disturbing”. The US State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson called for an
investigation from the Israeli government regarding the mass graves.

Read more: Famine risk ‘very high’ in Gaza: US official says

The on-going war has claimed the lives of more than 34,000 Palestinians since October last year, according to the local health ministry. The war began when Israel launched an attack into the Gaza Strip. Months of Israeli bombardment has left the entire region a wasteland.

Human rights organisations including the UN have been calling for a ceasefire due to humanitarian crisis as more than 2.3 Palestinians are on brink of starvation.