A United Nations (UN) expert has raised concerns that the clearance of rubble in Gaza by Israel could potentially destroy crucial evidence of “atrocity crimes” and hinder the recovery of human remains. This comes in the aftermath of Israel’s military action in Gaza, triggered by a deadly incursion into Israel by Hamas in October 2023, resulting in approximately 61 million tons of debris that may require up to seven years to clear, as reported by the United Nations.
Francesca Albanese, the designated UN expert overseeing the Palestinian territories, highlighted the issue in a statement titled “UN expert warns Israeli rubble-clearing could erase traces of atrocity crimes.” She emphasized the importance of involving Palestinians in any waste removal plans and stressed the need to secure evidence and identify human remains before initiating full-scale clearance operations.
Albanese expressed concern over reports received by her office in August regarding Israel’s systematic removal, crushing, and transportation of rubble. She pointed out that the rubble in Gaza serves not only as construction waste but also as part of a crime scene, a burial ground, and a tangible record of the devastating bombing campaign that unfolded over a two-year period.
The expert noted that multiple sources had confirmed the involvement of Israeli companies in the clearance activities, although specific sources were not disclosed. Requests for clarification from Reuters on the sourcing of this information went unanswered by Albanese’s office. Israeli governmental bodies, including the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister’s office, and the military, did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Historically, these entities have strongly refuted Albanese’s criticisms of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Albanese has faced previous criticism from countries like Germany, France, and Italy for what they deemed overly negative statements about Israel. However, she denied making the remarks attributed to her by these nations. In a separate development, the United States imposed sanctions on Albanese in July of the previous year, citing her alleged efforts to push the International Criminal Court to take action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.
The 2023 attacks led by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in Israel, with an additional 251 being held hostage. Gaza health authorities reported that over 73,000 Palestinians lost their lives in Israel’s military offensive. Israel has maintained that it took extensive measures to minimize civilian casualties, asserting that Hamas deployed civilians as human shields in densely populated areas—a claim disputed by Hamas.
Hamas expressed gratitude for Albanese’s warning and urged the removal of rubble in a manner that guarantees the retrieval of missing persons’ remains and the preservation of critical evidence. Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 8,000 individuals are still buried under the debris. In a recent search operation in Gaza City, a Palestinian recovery team discovered the remains of 112 individuals from a single family.