06/01/2026
Bodies of Children Found With Hands Bound in Gaza Mass Graves
Palestinian civil defence teams unearthing mass graves at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis have made a discovery that has horrified international observers: among the hundreds of decomposed bodies recovered, rescuers found the remains of children and infants with their hands bound by zip ties. More than 390 bodies were pulled from three separate grave sites within the hospital compound following the withdrawal of Israeli forces in April 2024, with Civil Defence officials reporting gunshot wounds to the head, patients still buried in hospital gowns with IV cannulas in their skin, and signs consistent with field executions. The head of Civil Defence evidence, Dr Muhammad Al-Mughair, confirmed that 78 of the recovered bodies were children.
The Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has documented over 130 mass grave sites across Gaza since October 2023, spanning hospital courtyards, schools, mosques, and residential neighbourhoods. The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk described the findings as "horrifying," calling for independent international investigators to be granted immediate and unimpeded access to all sites. The UN Security Council followed with a formal statement demanding comprehensive, transparent investigations into the circumstances the Council described as potential violations of international law. To date, no independent forensic investigation has been permitted to enter Gaza.
