Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the discovery of around 200 bodies by Gaza’s Civil Defence agency at a hospital in Khan Yunis has raised significant concerns. The agency reported that these bodies were killed and buried by Israeli forces, with some showing signs of torture. Mahmud Bassal, the agency’s spokesman, highlighted the challenges in identifying the decomposed bodies but emphasized ongoing efforts to recover and identify them.
Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas government media office, provided a higher figure of 283 bodies found at the hospital, referring to them as victims of the Israeli army. He called for an international investigation into these alleged crimes against civilians, including children and women. Muhammad al-Mughayyir, a senior official at the civil defence agency, confirmed the discovery of corpses at the facility and stated that efforts to retrieve the remaining bodies would continue.
The intense fighting in mid-February around Nasser hospital, where Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles surrounded the area in March, has resulted in a devastating toll on hospitals in Gaza. The World Health Organization reported the destruction of Al-Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, by an Israeli siege, leaving it in ruins and containing many bodies.
This grim situation underscores the urgent need for international attention and accountability for the reported atrocities in Gaza. The discovery of these bodies and the destruction of vital healthcare facilities highlight the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region amidst the ongoing conflict.
