Calls grow for probe over mass graves
EU backs UN demand after ‘more than 350 bodies’ found at two hospitals
The European Union yesterday backed a United Nations demand for an independent probe into the reported discovery of mass graves at two Gaza hospitals destroyed in Israeli sieges.
“This is something that forces us to call for an independent investigation of all the suspicions and all the circumstances, because indeed it creates the impression that there might have been violations of international human rights committed,” EU spokesman Peter Stano said.
“That’s why it’s important to have an independent investigation and to ensure accountability,” he added.
The UN rights office said on Tuesday that international investigators should be involved in a probe into the discovery of the bodies.
Credible investigators must have access to the sites, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, adding that more journalists needed to be able to work safely in Gaza to report on the facts.
The discovery of the graves “is another reason why we need a ceasefire, why we need to see an end to this conflict, why we need to see greater access for humanitarians, for humanitarian goods, greater protection for hospitals” and for the release of Israeli hostages, Dujarric said.
The UN rights office said it was “horrified” by the destruction of Gaza’s two biggest hospitals, al-Shifa in Gaza City and the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
Hospitals, which have protection under international law, have repeatedly come under Israeli bombardment over more than six months of war in Gaza.
“Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk said. “And the intentional killing of civilians, detainees and others who are [incapable of engaging in combat] is a war crime.”
The issue of who could or should conduct an investigation remains in question.
For the United Nations to conduct an investigation, one of its major bodies would have to authorise it, Dujarric said.
“I think it’s not for anyone to prejudge the results or who would do it,” he said. “I think it needs to be an investigation where there is access and there is credibility.”
US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel on Tuesday called the reports of mass graves at the hospitals “incredibly troubling” and said US officials had asked the Israeli government for information.
Gaza’s Civil Defence agency said on Tuesday that health workers uncovered nearly 340 bodies of people allegedly killed and buried by Israeli forces at the Nasser complex.
Israel’s army called claims that its troops had buried bodies during its operation at Nasser “baseless and unfounded”.
The army has said around 200 militants were killed, and weapons stockpiles recovered, during its operation at al-Shifa.
Around 30 bodies were reported found buried in two graves in the al-Shifa courtyard.
The Israeli military said its forces exhumed bodies that Palestinians had buried earlier as part of its search for the remains of hostages captured by Hamas during its October 7 attack that triggered the war. The military said bodies were examined in a respectful manner and those not belonging to Israeli hostages were returned to their place.
Israel has accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of using medical facilities as command centres and to hold hostages abducted during its attack inside Israel on October 7 which set off the war. Hamas has denied the claims.