3 weeks ago
Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has called from an independent investigation into reports of wide graves recovered astatine 2 hospitals successful Gaza. He besides reiterated warnings to Israel to not spell up pinch an expected crushed penetration of Rafah successful Southern Gaza. Photo by UPI
April 24 (UPI) -- The United Nations is calling for an independent investigation into reports of wide graves recovered astatine 2 hospitals successful Gaza that had been besieged by Israeli forces.
U.N. Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk made nan telephone Tuesday successful a statement, saying location should beryllium "independent, effective and transparent investigations into nan deaths."
"Given nan prevailing ambiance of impunity, this should see world investigators," he said. "Hospitals are entitled to very typical protection nether International humanitarian law. And nan intentional sidesplitting of civilians, detainees and others who are hors de combat is simply a warfare crime."
The hospitals successful mobility are An Nasser Medical Complex, successful Southern Gaza, and Al-Shifa Medical Complex, successful Northern Gaza. They were besieged earlier this twelvemonth by Israeli soldiers hunting militants.
The World Health Health Organization has said some accommodation are nary longer functional: nan Nasser infirmary since a subject ambush connected Feb. 14 and nan Al-Shifa installation since astatine slightest early this period erstwhile a WHO squad was capable to inspect nan site.
Over nan weekend, nan Palestine Civil Defense emergency services statement said successful a statement that it had uncovered 50 bodies of group of various ages buried successful nan crushed wrong nan analyzable of nan Nasser facility, and that teams would proceed their hunt successful nan days to come.
On Monday, nan statement had recovered a full of 283 bodies connected nan site, nan Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, which said nan mostly of nan victims were women and children.
Earlier this month, CNN reported a akin wide sedate of hundreds of bodies recovered successful and astir Al-Shifa pursuing nan withdrawal of troops.
Israel has many times accused Hamas of utilizing hospitals to motorboat attacks against it and concealed nan Iran-backed militia's tunnels. It said hundreds of suspects and hundreds of terrorists who were hiding astatine nan hospitals were either detained aliases killed.
Later Tuesday, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated Türk's telephone for "a clear, transparent and reliable investigation" during a property conference Tuesday.
He added they besides request much journalists to do their activity safely successful Gaza to study connected nan facts.
Türk's telephone came successful a statement that was decrying a bid of Israeli strikes complete nan past fewer days connected Rafah metropolis adjacent Gaza's confederate separator pinch Egypt wherever immoderate 1.2 cardinal civilians person been sheltering amid nan war.
Israel has said it will deploy a crushed penetration of nan city, but has attracted disapproval complete nan plan.
"The world's leaders guidelines agreed connected nan imperative of protecting nan civilian organization trapped successful Rafah," he said.
