UN warns of possible war crimes in Gaza

The United Nations has raised concerns about potential war crimes in Gaza, as the region continues to be devastated by Israel's prolonged military campaign. UN rights chief Volker Turk stated that international investigators should be granted access to all areas of Gaza to assist with evidence-gathering efforts. Since last November, over 630 bodies and other human remains have been recovered from destroyed buildings across Gaza, with estimates suggesting that the total number of missing could exceed 8,000.

The extensive remains found in Gaza City have reignited concerns about war crimes and other atrocities committed during Israel's full-scale war on the Palestinian territory. Turkey emphasized the need to document, identify, and preserve evidence of these victims, as well as inform their families of their burial locations. The UN's warnings come as Israel's ongoing bombardment and ground offensive have killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including over 1,350 since the ceasefire was agreed upon last October.

While the Palestinian health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority, reports these figures, Israel's official toll stands at 1,221 deaths attributed to the Hamas attack on October 7.