A United Nations expert cautioned on Monday that the removal of rubble in Gaza by Israel could lead to the destruction of crucial evidence related to “atrocity crimes” and hinder the identification of human remains.
Following Hamas’s deadly incursion into Israel in October 2023, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has resulted in approximately 61 million tons of debris and wreckage, a task that may require up to seven years to clear, as reported by 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 involving Palestinians in any debris removal plans.
Albanese’s office received reports in August about Israel’s deliberate and extensive clearing, crushing, and transportation of rubble. She stressed the necessity of documenting evidence and identifying human remains before full-scale clearance operations begin.
She highlighted that in the devastated Gaza Strip, the rubble represents not just construction waste but also a crime scene, a burial ground, and a tangible record of the brutal and unfounded bombing campaign that lasted two years.
Multiple sources have confirmed the involvement of Israeli companies in the clearance operations, though these sources were not disclosed. The UN expert’s office did not respond immediately to inquiries from Reuters regarding the sources of this information.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, prime minister’s office, and military refrained from immediate comments when approached for a response. Historically, these entities have strongly opposed Albanese’s criticisms, as she has emerged as a prominent critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
In February, Germany, France, and Italy collectively criticized what they perceived as Albanese’s excessively negative remarks about Israel, a stance she refuted by denying making the cited statements.
Last year, the United States imposed sanctions on Albanese, accusing her of attempting to push the International Criminal Court to take action against American and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.
UN experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, are tasked with monitoring and documenting specific human rights crises independently of the Council.
The 2023 attacks led by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in Israel, with an additional 251 taken captive according to Israeli reports. Gaza health authorities reported that over 73,000 Palestinians lost their lives in Israel’s military operations.
Israel maintains that it has made significant efforts to minimize civilian casualties, alleging that Hamas employs Gaza’s civilians as shields in densely populated areas—a claim that Hamas denies.
Hamas expressed gratitude for Albanese’s warning, urging for the rubble’s removal in a manner that ensures the retrieval of missing persons’ remains and the preservation of evidence.
Palestinian authorities estimate that over 8,000 individuals are still buried under the debris. A Palestinian recovery team, which recently searched through the wreckage in Gaza City, discovered the remains of 112 individuals from the same family.