Israel has denied accusations of burying Palestinians in a mass grave after more than 300 bodies were discovered in the courtyard of a Gaza Strip hospital. Karima al-Ras, a mother searching for her son Ahmad, found him among the bodies with gunshot wounds and recognized him by his features. The Hamas-run government accused Israel of hiding its crimes by digging the graves.
The UN is investigating claims that some bodies had their hands bound and were stripped of clothing. Israel’s armed forces refuted the accusations, stating they removed bodies for inspection and returned them to their original place. Satellite imagery and social media evidence revealed mass graves were dug during Israel’s siege of the hospital and later bulldozed while they occupied the complex.
The IDF claimed to be searching for Israeli hostages among the bodies, but admitted no hostages were found. The destruction caused by bulldozers during the occupation was evident in satellite imagery and videos. Palestinians have returned to the hospital to search for their dead, with new graves being dug since the Israelis left.
Karima al-Ras finally buried her son properly, finding comfort in laying him to rest. Others, like 14-year-old Moayed Mustafa, are still searching for their lost family members. Mustafa pleaded for a solution to the ongoing conflict, expressing the desire to live in peace. The situation remains tense as families continue to search for closure amidst the devastation.