U.N. rights office raises alarm after reports of mass graves at Gaza hospitals

The U.N. Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said Tuesday it was deeply concerned by reports that hundreds of bodies were found buried at hospitals in Gaza, citing Gaza health authorities that informed the U.N. of discoveries at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

"So we feel the need to raise the alarm," OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said, noting reports that some of the bodies were found with their hands tied. Shamdasani said the details, including the exact number of bodies, remain subject to further investigation.

U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk expressed horror at the reports and said the intentional killing of civilians and detainees would constitute a war crime; he called for independent investigations into the deaths. The OHCHR statement linked the findings to ongoing Israeli air strikes in Gaza.

The OHCHR account relies on information provided by Gaza health authorities; the U.N. office said the reported circumstances "indicate serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law" and called for those reports to be investigated independently. OHCHR did not provide a formal casualty tally for the incidents beyond the description of "hundreds" of bodies.

The U.N. statement did not identify individuals or groups responsible for the burials and did not specify whether forensic teams have been able to conduct on-site examinations. OHCHR said the reports require further investigation to establish the facts and possible violations of international law.

The U.N. press summary closed with a call for independent investigations and for authorities to preserve evidence and allow access to inspectors and forensic specialists.