Mass grave unearthed at former Israeli-occupied hospital in Gaza: Report
A mass grave containing 180 bodies was discovered at the Nasser Medical Hospital complex in Gaza's Khan Younis on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera. The deceased include elderly women, children, and young men. Authorities said that some bodies were found without any clothes indicating torture and abuse. They are still waiting for all graves to be exhumed in order to give a final number. The discovery follows the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the southern city on April 7.
Evidence of torture and abuse in discovered mass grave
"We found corpses without heads, bodies without skins, and some had their organs stolen," the director-general of the Government Media Office said in a statement shared by Quds News Network. Last week, another mass grave was found at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, the region's largest medical facility. To recall, over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 78,000 injured in the 141 square km Gaza Strip since the conflict began on October 7.
Trigger warning: 190 bodies discovered in mass graves
Israel's response to the conflict
The conflict was initiated by Israel following a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,139 deaths and nearly 250 captives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a video message that Israel "will deliver additional and painful blows" to Hamas. He also stated that they will "increase the military and political pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages." Israel estimates that 133 captives remain in Gaza after the October attack.
Gaza hospitals bear the brunt of Israeli strikes
Hospitals in Gaza have faced the brunt of the Israeli assault, with the military accusing Hamas of using them as command centres and to hold hostages abducted on October 7, claims denied by the Hamas. Israel Defense Forces is currently investigating the discoveries of mass graves, following their withdrawal from Khan Yunis on April 7 after conducting what it described as a "precise and limited operation" at the hospital.
