GENEVA, Tuesday, April 23, 2024 (WAFA) - The United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk called today for independent investigations into the reported discovery of mass graves in two Gaza hospitals.

In a statement, he expressed his horror at the destruction of Nasser and Al-Shifa hospitals, calling for independent, effective and transparent investigations.

He said: “Given the prevailing climate of impunity, this should include international investigators,” he added. “Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law. And the intentional killing of civilians, detainees, and others who are hors de combat is a war crime.”

 “Every 10 minutes a child is killed or wounded. They are protected under the laws of war, and yet they are the ones who are disproportionately paying the ultimate price in this war,” said Türk.

The UN rights chief also reiterated his warning against a full-scale Israeli incursion of Rafah, where an estimated 1.2 million Gazans “have been forcibly cornered”.

Meanwhile, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the disturbing reports continue to emerge about mass graves in Gaza in which Palestinian victims were reportedly found stripped naked with their hands tied, prompting renewed concerns about possible war crimes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes.

“Among the deceased were allegedly older people, women and wounded, while others were found tied with their hands…tied and stripped of their clothes,” said Shamdasani.

A.D./T.R.