Palestinian Authority Asks UN To Investigate Mass Grave Discovery At Gaza Hospital

JAKARTA - A Palestinian Civil Defense team on Thursday asked the United Nations to investigate what it said was a war crime at a Gaza hospital, saying nearly 400 bodies were found from mass graves after Israeli soldiers left the compound.

"There were cases of field execution of several patients while undergoing surgery and wearing surgical clothes at Nasser Medical Complex," the Civil Defense Forces said at a news conference, without providing any evidence.

Palestinian authorities this week reported finding hundreds of bodies in mass graves at Nasser hospital, the main medical facility in central Gaza, after Israeli forces withdrew from Khan Younis City.

The body was also reportedly found at Al Shifa hospital in northern Gaza, which was the target of the Israeli special forces operation.

Earlier, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday he was "horrified" by the destruction of Nasser and Al Shifa's medical facilities and reports of mass graves, according to a spokesman.

The Palestinian Civil Defense Team accused Israel of burying a number of bodies in Nasser's compound in a plastic bag at a depth of 3 meters (10 feet), where the bodies quickly rot to hide evidence of their "crimes", including torture, he said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said claims by Palestinian authorities that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had buried "baseless" bodies.

It said troops seeking Israeli hostages had examined bodies previously buried by Palestinians near Nasser hospital and returned them after they were examined.

"The examination was carried out carefully and exclusively in intelligence places indicating the possibility of hostages. The examination was carried out with respect while maintaining the dignity of the deceased," he said in a statement.

In addition, Israel denies killing people found in the cemetery and has released footage that they say shows Palestinians excavated the cemetery before IDF operations.

Separately, the prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court of The Hague is investigating both sides in the Israel-Gaza war, including the October 7 events and their impacts.

Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said his team was "actively investigating any alleged crimes committed" in Gaza and "Those who violate the law will be held accountable".