Reports have emerged of mass graves discovered at Gaza hospitals, with some bodies found “without heads.” The situation has raised serious concerns about potential war crimes and human rights violations.
A third mass grave was discovered at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday. The Gaza media office announced this disturbing find, which included bodies without heads. The total number of mass grave sites between three Gaza hospitals now stands at seven, containing the remains of approximately 520 men, women, and children.
The first mass graves were previously discovered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. These graves contained bodies that were stripped naked, with their hands tied. The United Nations (U.N.) has called for a clear, transparent, and credible investigation into these atrocities. U.N. human rights experts expressed horror over the reports, noting signs of torture, summary executions, and even instances of people being buried alive.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson, Vedant Patel, called the reports of mass graves “incredibly troubling.” The Biden administration has questioned the Israeli government about these findings. The Israeli military confirmed the discovery of mass graves, explaining that their forces had previously exhumed bodies at these sites while searching for Israeli hostages held by Hamas during the conflict. However, these claims could not be independently verified.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has been particularly dangerous for women and children. Of the nearly 35,000 Palestinians killed in the conflict, approximately 14,500 were children, and another 9,000 were women. The situation remains dire, with civilian casualties mounting as the Israeli military pushes into Rafah, capturing the border crossing between the city and Egypt.