Twenty Bodies In Mass Graves Of Nasser Gaza Hospital Allegedly Buried Alive

Evacuation of bodies in mass graves around Nasser Hospital. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - The number of bodies found from mass graves at the Nasser Hospital Complex, Gaza, Palestine continues to grow, as local authorities find allegations some of them are buried alive.

Gaza authorities said two Palestinians were allegedly buried alive in the mass grave of Nasser Hospital.

Gaza's Civil Defense said the indications were found as they continued to dig the mass graves at the hospital complex located in Khan Younis.

Civil Defense Chief Colonel Yamen Abu Suleiman on Thursday said a number of bodies were found in shallow soil in three mass graves found at the site.

"We believe that the occupation (force) buried at least 20 people at Nasser Medical Complex while they were still alive," he said, quoted by The National News April 25.

Colonel Suleiman added that the occupation army replaced the plastic cloth "to cover their crimes."

So far, a total of 392 bodies have been found at the location of the mass graves, including children.

Others were found buried in hospital clothes worn during the operation, the civil defense said, while several bodies were found with signs of torture.

The mass burial was found in a hospital in Khan Younis City, southern Gaza, by Civil Defense workers after Israeli forces withdrew from the area on April 7.

Earlier, the United Nations called for an "independent, effective and transparent investigation" regarding the discovery of a mass grave of two hospital complexes in Gaza, Palestine under siege and raided by Israeli forces.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the views reported at the Nasser Hospital complex and Al-Shifa Hospital.

"Given the existing climate impunity, this should involve international investigators," Turk said.

"Hospitals are entitled to very special protection based on international humanitarian law. And, intentional killings of civilians, detainees and others who are in a hors de Combat condition are war crimes," Turk explained.

Separately, the Ministry of Health in Gaza on Thursday announced that 43 people were killed and 64 others injured in the past 24 hours. That brings the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza to an increase of 34,305 and injuries to 77,293 people.