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Are Hamas Fighters Buried in Khan Yunis’ Mass Grave, as Claimed by Edy Cohen?

Misbar's Editorial Team Misbar's Editorial Team
News
26th November 2023
Are Hamas Fighters Buried in Khan Yunis’ Mass Grave, as Claimed by Edy Cohen?
111 Palestinian bodies were buried in a mass burial in Khan Yunis (Getty)

Recently, the Israeli activist Edy Cohen posted a picture on the X platform, claiming that it depicts the bodies of Hamas fighters. He sarcastically captioned it, “Look at the elite of Hamas,” indicating that the bodies shown in the picture belong to elite members of the Al-Qassam Brigades who were killed during the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.

Misbar investigated the claim and discovered no evidence linking the dead bodies in the photo to Hamas fighters. Eyewitnesses also have revealed that some of the bodies are Palestinian women and children, victims of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Edy Cohen claims the photo depicts Hamas fighters' bodies
Edy Cohen claims the photo depicts Hamas fighters' bodies

Eyewitnesses Contradict Cohen’s Claims to Misbar

Misbar reviewed Al Jazeera's coverage of the mass burial on Wednesday, November 22. According to Wael Al-Dahdouh, the channel's correspondent, approximately 111 bodies were buried in the mass grave. He reported that among them were children and women who tragically lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes.

Wael Al-Dahdouh reports on Khan Yunis mass grave burials
Wael Al-Dahdouh reports on Khan Yunis mass grave burials

Misbar contacted Wael Al-Dahdouh, who revealed that some of the bodies were brought from Beit Hanoun, while the rest were from Al-Shifa Medical Complex in northern Gaza City. This followed the exhumation of a mass grave where the bodies had been previously buried in the hospital's courtyard.

Al-Dahdouh confirmed that a significant number of the bodies he examined belonged to children, with a considerable portion in a state of decomposition. He added that they were identified solely by numbers and not by names.

Moreover, Misbar contacted Journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz, who was present at the arrival and burial of the bodies in the mass grave. He affirmed that the bodies belonged to civilians buried in Al-Shifa Hospital’s courtyard before the occupation forces excavated their graves and took the bodies.

Abu Aziz witnessed the burial of bodies, including those of children in the mass grave. He stated, “I was present near the graveyard where the martyrs were buried, and I witnessed the moment the truck arrived. I saw a number of the martyrs’ bodies, including children.”

Palestinian journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz (Facebook)
Palestinian journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz (Facebook)

The Occupation Seizes Palestinian Bodies From Al-Shifa Medical Complex

Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, had stated to Al-Jazeera on November 17 that the occupation kidnapped the bodies of 120 martyrs from within a mass grave in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Medical Complex.

The Occupation Seizes Palestinian Bodies From Al-Shifa Medical Complex
The Occupation Seizes Palestinian Bodies From Al-Shifa Medical Complex

Mass Grave in Al-Shifa Medical Complex

On November 14, the administration of Al-Shifa Hospital was forced to bury dozens of bodies in a single mass grave within the hospital courtyard, as the Israeli siege prevented their transportation outside the hospital premises. According to the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, the grave contained premature babies who tragically lost their lives due to a power outage. This same grave was later excavated by occupation forces, and the bodies were seized before being handed over for burial in the mass grave in Khan Yunis.

179 bodies were buried in a mass grave in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Complex
179 bodies were buried in a mass grave in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Complex

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