Hamas found nearly 340 bodies in a hospital in southern Gaza, accusing the Israeli army of killing and burying Palestinians in mass graves.
The Civil Defense Agency in Gaza said on April 23 that medical staff discovered these bodies at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis city, southern Gaza. According to the agency, these people died when the Israeli army surrounded and raided the hospital.
Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Hamas’ media office in the Gaza Strip, accused the Israeli army of digging a mass grave in the hospital. “We discovered mass graves in Nasser hospital. These are people murdered by the Israeli army,” al-Thawabta said.
The Israeli army called the accusations baseless, but admitted that it had examined the bodies here.
“During operations at Nasser hospital, the Israel Defense Forces examined Palestinian bodies buried here to search for hostages and missing people,” the Israeli army said. “The checks were carried out carefully and only in places where intelligence information indicated that hostages might be present. Bodies that were not Israeli hostages were returned to the burial site.”
Residents and medical staff exhumed bodies buried at Nasser hospital, Khan Younis city, southern Gaza Strip on April 23. Image: AFP
However, the Israeli army did not mention the accusation of killing these people. They also did not give any explanation to the question related to the accusation of digging a “mass grave” at the hospital.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on April 23 that the scene of mass graves was “worrying”, but could not be confirmed. “We will certainly talk to our Israeli counterparts to see what they know,” Kirby said.
The United Nations called for a “clear, transparent and credible investigation” into the incident. According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, trustworthy investigators must have access to the locations where bodies were discovered.
Fierce fighting broke out in mid-February in the Nasser hospital area and Israeli tanks and armor surrounded the area on March 26. The Israeli army said on April 23 that its forces “conducted a precise and targeted operation against Hamas at Nasser hospital” in late February.
The Israeli military accused Hamas of using hospitals and medical facilities as command centers to stockpile weapons and equipment and detain captured hostages after Hamas raided Israel on October 7, 2023, therefore regularly launch attacks on these facilities. Hamas denies the accusations.
According to health authorities in Gaza, at least 34,183 people have died since Israel launched its response campaign against Hamas.
Location of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Graphics: BBC
Huyen Le (According to AFP, AP)
