Amidst the devastation in Gaza, a mother stands at the foot of a mass grave, her heart wrenched as she identifies her son, Nabil, among the nearly 400 bodies recovered. The bodies were found after Israeli troops withdrew from the compound in December. Her family members, including her mother and sister, are left in disbelief and desperation as they recognize Nabil’s half-disfigured body, confirming his identity.
Only a fraction of the bodies have been identified so far, with around 300 more awaiting exhumation. Local authorities in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, consider these mass graves to be “crimes against humanity,” and the United Nations has called for an investigation into the matter. Some bodies show signs of executions, torture, or being buried alive, raising concerns about human rights violations. Among the victims identified is Jamal Abu al Ola, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers after being sent to deliver evacuation orders at the Al Nasser hospital.
The recovery efforts continue with many bodies still waiting to be identified and exhumed. Dr. Momahed al Mughair, responsible for the Civil Defense body, reports that some bodies were moved multiple times and show signs of interference by Israeli occupation authorities. The United Nations has called for an investigation into these mass graves to determine the extent of human rights violations that occurred during Israel’s army offensive on Gaza Strip.
The situation in Gaza remains dire with thousands of victims still unaccounted for and many bodies buried under rubble. The Secretary General of the United Nations has urged for a thorough investigation into the mass graves while Israel denies any wrongdoing regarding these incidents which took place during its military operation on Gaza Strip from May to July 2021 known as “Operation Breakthrough.” The bodies found in these graves belonged to victims of this operation but the circumstances surrounding their burial remain unclear.
The international community is calling for independent investigations into these mass graves to hold all parties accountable for potential human rights violations committed during this conflict in Gaza Strip
