UN REF: A/HRC/56/NGO/40

DATE: 12 June 2024

TITLE: Evidence of Mass Graves Containing Hundreds of Bodies Throughout Israel’s Genocidal Attacks Against Palestinians in Gaza

Written statement submitted by The Palestinian Return Centre Ltd, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status. Human Rights Council Fifty-sixth session. 18 June–12 July 2024. Agenda item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General.

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Press Statement:

UN Documents Publishes a New Report by PRC on the Mass Graves Discovered in Gaza

The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) has submitted a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, bringing to light disturbing evidence of mass graves found in Gaza. The report was published by UN Documents under reference: A/HRC/56/NGO/40.

These graves, discovered primarily near hospitals raided by Israeli forces during the 2023/24 military operations, contain the bodies of missing Palestinians, some showing signs of torture and having been reportedly buried alive.

PRC has expressed horror over the uncovered mass graves and called for thorough and impartial investigations. Over 520 bodies have been uncovered in mass graves at multiple sites across Gaza, with evidence pointing to field executions by Israeli soldiers.

PRC called on the UN Human Rights Council to take immediate action and Member States to impose arms embargoes and sanctions on Israel to end the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza.

PRC's statement underscored the urgent need for independent investigations into these alleged human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It called on the UN Human Rights Council to urgently investigate the allegations of mass graves found in Gaza indicating a pattern of grave human rights violations followed by willing attempts to cover over and erase evidence of crimes committed by the Israeli army.