Israel-Gaza war: 49 bodies found at ‘third mass grave’ at al-Shifa hospital, Palestinian officials say
- So far, 520 bodies have been recovered from seven mass graves found at three different hospitals across Gaza in recent weeks, Gaza’s Civil Defence agency said
- Israel accuses Palestinian militants of using hospitals as command centres and to hold hostages abducted on October 7. Hamas denies the accusation
Gaza health workers uncovered on Wednesday at least 49 bodies at al-Shifa hospital, a medical official and Hamas authorities said, the latest such discovery at the facility previously raided by Israeli forces.
The Israeli military has repeatedly targeted al-Shifa, the Palestinian territory’s largest hospital, and other medical facilities in its war against Hamas, triggered by the Palestinian group’s unprecedented October 7 attack.
Israel accuses Palestinian militants of using hospitals as command centres and to hold hostages abducted on October 7. Hamas denies the accusation.
Motassem Salah, head of the emergency department at al-Shifa, told journalists that “a third mass grave was found inside this hospital”.
The Hamas-run government media office said in a separate statement that at least 49 bodies had been recovered from the site on the premises of al-Shifa.
The statement accused Israel of “killings … inside and outside hospitals”, without offering further information concerning the bodies found on Wednesday.