Situation on ground not 'conducive' to mass graves investigation in Gaza: UN

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN on Wednesday re-emphasized the need for an independent investigation into mass graves in the Gaza Strip but said the situation on the ground is not "conducive" for a probe at this point.

Noting that any investigation would need approval from all parties on the ground, UN Deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq stressed that "an independent, effective and transparent investigation into the deaths at Nasser and Al-Shifa hospitals must be conducted."

Haq was asked about the latest discovery of 51 bodies from a mass grave at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Saying that the type of investigation to be conducted or who would conduct it is unknown, he cited the presence of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Highlighting that those organizations could also investigate human rights violations, he called on "all parties continue to work to keep hospitals safe."

Haq said approval of all parties on the ground is necessary for investigations to be effective. Asked how approval would be obtained from Israel, which committed the crime, he said, "Well, again, this is something that's been true across the board with our investigations. There's always difficulties in terms of places where conflict has occurred, to get the access we need. But ultimately, for any investigation to be meaningful, you need that access."

Providing information about the general situation in Gaza, Haq said Israeli authorities did not allow humanitarian aid shipments to go to northern Gaza on Wednesday.

He noted that Israeli officials continue to impede aid shipments to the north, stating that more than one-third of the aid intended to reach Gaza in April was blocked.

Regarding developments in the West Bank, Haq noted that Israeli forces killed 18 Palestinians while hundreds of homes and camps were damaged from April 18 - 22.