Algeria calls for urgent UN meeting on Gaza mass graves

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 May 2024 08:56
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Algeria reportedly calls for an investigation into mass graves discovered at multiple hospitals in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian health workers dig to recover bodies of martyrs killed and buried at mass graves at Nasser Hospital compound in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on April 21, 2024. (AFP)

Algeria has reportedly sought a private UN Security Council session scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the recent uncovering of mass graves at multiple hospitals in the Gaza Strip, following the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from medical facilities they had invaded, according to a source cited by Sputnik.

In the same context, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced worry, on April 30, over reports of mass graves unearthed in Gaza, including at two hospitals, and concern that Palestinians were executed, calling for an impartial investigation.

"It is imperative that independent international investigators with forensic expertise are allowed the immediate access to the sites of these mass graves to establish the precise circumstances under which the Palestinians lost their lives and were buried or reburied," Guterres stated.

South Africa, which has launched a remarkable legal case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also called on the international community to urgently lead a thorough and impartial investigation into the recent discovery of mass graves in several areas across the besieged territory.

The recent discovery of mass graves inside the Nasser Medical Complex and Gaza's largest medical facility, the al-Shifa Medical Center, prompted the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to call for an investigation.

"South Africa is appalled by the recent grim discovery of a mass grave containing the remains of 202 Palestinian civilians at Nasser Hospital in Gaza," the department stated.

Nearly 400 decomposing bodies uncovered in Khan Younis Nasser Hospital

At least 392 decomposing bodies were uncovered from the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis by the Civil Defense in Gaza and locals aiding rescue workers on April 25, following Israeli occupation forces (IOF) withdrawal from the medical facility which they invaded at an earlier time.

At the time, the Civil Defense said that the occupation's military committed multiple field executions in the hospital, demanding that an international investigation be launched into the blatant war crimes.

Moreover, the occupation's troops buried a number of bodies in large plastic body bags at a depth of 3 meters, which facilitated their decomposition. Authorities also revealed that the occupation reverted to atrocious practices by burying at least 20 people alive in the medical facility.

Israeli occupation forces also attempted to hide the evidence of their crimes by exchanging the body bags of certain bodies, as seen in several instances by authorities.

Yet, only a few countries have taken direct action that equates to the level of the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, while the majority of the Western-led world order has continued its backing for the Israeli occupation.

This has raised serious questions regarding the effectiveness and impartiality of the international legal system and the work of multiple international and humanitarian organizations, which have failed to live up to their duties in stopping the blatant genocide of Palestinians.