https://arab.news/rpvpe
- Council members express oncern over reports of mass graves in and around Nasser and Al-Shifa medical facilities in Gaza
- Security Council statement did not say who would conduct the investigations into reports of mass graves in Palestine聽
NEW YORK: The UN Security Council has called for an immediate and independent investigation into mass graves allegedly containing hundreds of bodies near hospitals in Gaza.
In a statement, members of the council expressed their 鈥渄eep concern over reports of the discovery of mass graves, in and around the Nasser and Al-Shifa medical facilities in Gaza, where several hundred bodies, including women, children and older persons, were buried.鈥�
The members stressed the need for 鈥渁ccountability鈥� for any violations of international law.
They called on investigators to be given 鈥渦nimpeded access to all locations of mass graves in Gaza to conduct immediate, independent, thorough, comprehensive, transparent and impartial investigations.鈥�
FASTFACT
The World Health Organization said in April that Al-Shifa, in Gaza City, had been reduced to an 鈥榚mpty shell,鈥� with many bodies found in the area.
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been repeatedly targeted since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in the Palestinian territory following the October 7 attack on southern Israel by Gaza-based Hamas militants.
The World Health Organization said in April that Al-Shifa, in Gaza City, had been reduced to an 鈥渆mpty shell,鈥� with many bodies found in the area.
The Israeli army has said around 200 Palestinians were killed during its military operations there.
Bodies have reportedly been found buried in two graves in the hospital鈥檚 courtyard.
The UN rights office in late April had called for an independent investigation into reports of mass graves at Al-Shifa and the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
Gaza officials said at the time that health workers at the Nasser complex had uncovered hundreds of bodies of Palestinians they alleged had been killed and buried by Israeli forces.
Israel鈥檚 army has dismissed the claims as 鈥渂aseless and unfounded.鈥�
The statement on Friday from the Security Council did not say who would conduct the investigations.
But it 鈥渞eaffirmed the importance of allowing families to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing relatives, consistent with international humanitarian law.鈥�
Israel鈥檚 offensive has killed at least 34,943 people in the Gaza Strip, primarily women and children, the Health Ministry in the territory said.