A United Nations expert expressed concerns on Monday that Israel’s ongoing removal of rubble in Gaza could potentially erase crucial evidence of “atrocity crimes” and hinder the identification of human remains.
The operation initiated by Israel in response to a Hamas incursion into Israel in October 2023 has resulted in approximately 61 million tons of debris and wreckage in Gaza, a volume that may require up to seven years to clear, according to the United Nations.
Francesca Albanese, the UN specialist overseeing the Palestinian territories, released a statement titled “UN expert warns Israeli rubble-clearing could erase traces of atrocity crimes,” emphasizing the importance of Palestinian involvement in any debris removal plans.
Albanese highlighted that the rubble in Gaza holds significant significance beyond mere construction waste, serving as a critical component of a crime scene, a burial ground, and a tangible record of the devastating and senseless aerial bombardment that endured for two years.
The expert revealed that multiple sources indicated the involvement of Israeli companies in the clearance activities, although these sources were not specifically named. When approached for clarification, Albanese’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries from Reuters regarding the sources of this information.
Requests for comments from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister’s Office, and military remained unanswered at the time. Historically, these entities have strongly opposed Albanese’s criticisms of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
In a separate incident, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Albanese last July, accusing her of instigating the International Criminal Court to take legal action against U.S. and Israeli officials, as well as companies and executives.
The clashes in 2023, initiated by Hamas, resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in Israel, with another 251 held hostage. Gaza health authorities reported that over 73,000 Palestinians lost their lives during Israel’s military intervention.
Israel maintains that it has made significant efforts to minimize civilian casualties, attributing high casualty figures to Hamas’s alleged use of civilians as shields in densely populated areas, a claim vehemently denied by the militant group.
Hamas expressed gratitude for Albanese’s warning, emphasizing the need for a methodical debris removal process that ensures the recovery of missing individuals and the preservation of potential evidence. Palestinian officials estimate that over 8,000 individuals are still buried under the rubble, with a recent search in Gaza City uncovering the remains of 112 members from a single family clan.