South Africa Stresses Investigation into Gaza Hospital Mass Graves

IQNA – The international community has been urged to lead a thorough and impartial investigation into the recent discovery of mass graves in different areas across the Gaza Strip.

South Africa made the call after the mass graves were found following the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from the areas.

In a statement, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said: “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.”

Israel, it added, has ignored the interim decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and is being left unpunished.

It pointed out that the evidence related to the mass killings committed by Israel against civilians indicates war crimes and genocide.

“We call on the international community to take measures to bring the perpetrators of crimes to justice,” it added. “These grim findings call for immediate and comprehensive investigations to ensure justice and accountability.”

It stressed that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians. “We urge the International Criminal Court to launch a comprehensive and impartial investigation into this case, in accordance with the standards of international law, to uncover the facts and bring those responsible to justice.”

On Monday, the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip announced the discovery of 283 bodies in a mass grave in Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Strip, after the Israeli army withdrew from it.

The Israeli regime has so far killed 34,305 Palestinians and wounded 77,293 others in its ruthless war against the Gaza Strip in addition to displacing about 85 per cent of the Strip’s population, according to United Nations data. 

Source: Middle East Monitor