Human rights office demands that Israeli investigation into ‘double tap’ attack that killed 20 people yields results
Human rights office demands that Israeli investigation into ‘double tap’ attack that killed 20 people yields results
The UN has demanded that Israel’s investigations into unlawful killings in Gaza, including its “double tap” bombing of Nasser hospital which killed 20 people, among them five journalists, yield results and ensure accountability.
“There needs to be justice,” Thameen Al-Kheetan, the spokesperson for the UN’s human rights office, told reporters on Tuesday in Geneva. He added that the number of journalists killed in Gaza raised many questions about the targeting of media workers.
On Monday, Israel struck Nasser hospital, the last functioning public hospital in southern Gaza, twice. Witnesses said the second strike came just as rescue crews and journalists arrived to evacuate the wounded 15 minutes after the first bombing, killing first responders and media workers.
The “double tap” strike killed journalists working for Reuters, Associated Press and Al Jazeera, as well as independent journalists. It drew global condemnation. All three publications issued statements mourning the journalists, and urged Israel to look into the killings.
The office of the Israeli prime minister said it “deeply regrets the tragic mishap” that happened at the hospital and that the Israeli military was conducting an investigation.
The UN spokesperson urged Israel to ensure its investigation led to results, referring to recent Israeli military investigations that were closed without resolution.
“The Israeli authorities have, in the past, announced investigations in such killings … We haven’t seen results or accountability measures yet. We have yet to see the results of these investigations and we call for accountability and justice,” said Kheetan.
A report published by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) this month showed that 88% of Israel’s investigations into war crime allegations in Gaza were shut down or left unresolved.
