Euro-Med Monitor: Committee must be formed to investigate death of premature babies

An independent international investigation committee must be established to look into the deaths of five newborn Palestinian children, Euro-Med Monitor said on Wednesday.

The statement was issued following the news that five premature Palestinian babies were discovered dead when the temporary truce was announced. 

According to Euro-Med Monitor’s documentation, the five infants were abandoned for three weeks before being found dead. Their bodies were discovered in a decomposing state in al-Nasr hospital's nursery.

The hospital’s director, Dr Mustafa al-Kahlot, told Euro-Med Monitor that he had tried to save the lives of the five children before it was too late by requesting help from international organisations including the Red Cross, but he never received a response. 

The rights group has called for the Israeli army to be held accountable for the deaths of the babies and that the Red Cross should also be held responsible for suspicions of negligence in responding to calls to save the lives of children and patients in Gaza.

The Geneva-based organisation stressed the importance of ending Israel’s siege and the targeting of medical facilities.