Gaza Strip mass graves

During the Israel–Hamas war, mass graves have been widely used in the Gaza Strip by Palestinians, with the courtyards of many hospitals converted.[1]

In April 2024, mass graves were discovered in the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war. Such graves were found in two large hospitals, Nasser Hospital and Al-Shifa Hospital, both of which were raided by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Mass graves had previously been established in the courtyards of both hospitals, and according to independent analysis the grave found in Nasser hospital was in the same location as one established by Palestinians months previously.[2][3] Graves were also found in Beit Lahia, and used in Deir al-Balah.[4] More than 300 bodies have been found as of 24 April 2024.[5][6][7] By 11 May 2024, the number had risen to 520, per the Gaza Ministry of Health.[8] As of May 31 2024, seven mass graves in Gaza had been discovered.[9]

The discovery has caused international concern over potential war crimes and calls for an investigation, including by the United Nations (UN).[10][11][12] Several officials at the UN have cited reports that an unspecified amount of the bodies found had their hands tied.[13][14][15]

The IDF said the accusations of them causing the killings were "baseless and unfounded."[16] The IDF said that during its operation "in the area of Nasser Hospital, in accordance to the effort to locate hostages and missing persons, corpses buried by Palestinians in the area of Nasser Hospital were examined."[17] They further stated that "Bodies examined, which did not belong to Israeli hostages, were returned to their place."[17][18]

  1. ^ "'An open-air graveyard': In Gaza, there is nowhere left to bury the dead". Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference France24-truth-or-fake was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Mass graves found at Gaza's al-Shifa hospital and in Beit Lahiya". Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Uncovering of mass graves in Gaza: What you need to know". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  6. ^ Salman, Abeer; Dahman, Ibrahim; Lister, Tim (22 April 2024). "More than 300 bodies found in mass grave at Gaza hospital, says Gaza Civil Defense". CNN. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  7. ^ Reporter, Brendan Cole Senior News (23 April 2024). "US speaks out about "mass grave" found in Gaza". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Eighty bodies discovered in al-Shifa Hospital mass graves". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Seven mass graves discovered so far in Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Mass Graves of Hundreds Uncovered in Gaza Sound Alarm". TIME. 26 April 2024. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  11. ^ "UN calls for investigation into mass graves uncovered at two Gaza hospitals raided by Israel". Associated Press News. 23 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  12. ^ Stack, Liam; Yazbek, Hiba; Cumming-Bruce, Nick (23 April 2024). "U.N. Calls for Inquiry into Mass Graves at 2 Gaza Hospitals". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Mass graves in Gaza show victims' hands were tied, says UN rights office". UN News. United Nations. 23 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Bodies found with 'hands tied' in mass graves in Gaza". The Independent. 23 April 2024. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Gaza: Over 200 Bodies, Including Children, Found in Mass Grave at Nasser Hospital". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference auto was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).