A United Nations specialist remarked on Monday that the Israeli removal of debris in Gaza may obliterate crucial evidence of “atrocity crimes” and hinder the recovery of human remains.
The military campaign by Israel against Gaza, which commenced following a deadly incursion in Israel by Hamas in October 2023, has resulted in an estimated 61 million tons of rubble and debris, with the United Nations estimating it could take up to seven years to clear.
Francesca Albanese, the UN expert focusing on the Palestinian territories, released a statement titled: “UN expert warns Israeli rubble-clearing could erase traces of atrocity crimes,” emphasizing that any plans for debris removal should involve the Palestinian community.
She noted that her office had received reports of Israel’s “intentional and extensive removal, crushing, and transportation of rubble” as early as August. Albanese stressed the necessity of collecting evidence and identifying human remains prior to commencing full-scale clearance operations.
“In the ravaged landscape of Gaza, rubble is not merely construction waste. It constitutes part of a crime scene, a cemetery, and the tangible record of the events that transpired during a brutal and senseless bombing campaign lasting two years,” she stated in her announcement.
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, attends a news conference during the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva on March 24. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
She indicated that various sources had corroborated the involvement of Israeli companies in the debris clearance, but did not disclose the identities of those sources. Albanese’s office did not provide immediate answers to inquiries from Reuters regarding the origins of that information.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister’s office, and the military did not respond promptly to requests for comments. Previously, all three entities have strongly contested Albanese’s views, as she has become one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
In February, Germany, France, and Italy condemned her comments as excessively negative towards Israel, though she refuted making the statements they cited.
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Last July, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Albanese for what it described as her attempts to encourage the International Criminal Court to pursue action against U.S. and Israeli officials, as well as companies and executives.
UN experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva to observe and document specific human rights emergencies, yet they operate independently from the organization itself.
Palestinians walk past destroyed residential buildings in Gaza City on Aug. 15. (Mahmoud Issa/Reuters)
According to Israeli figures, the Hamas-led assaults resulted in 1,200 fatalities in Israel, with another 251 individuals taken hostage.
In contrast, Gaza health authorities report that over 73,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israel’s military operations.
Israel asserts that it has made significant efforts to prevent civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of utilizing civilians as human shields in densely populated regions—a claim that Hamas denies.
There are currently about a dozen functioning excavators in the Gaza Strip now working to clear roads and retrieve remains from under the rubble. Samir Sabra says the work will take a long time because his machines are on their last legs and require a lot of maintenance.
In a statement, Hamas expressed its appreciation for Albanese’s warning, urging that the debris be cleared in a manner that “ensures the recovery of the remains of missing persons and the preservation of evidence.”
Palestinian officials estimate that over 8,000 individuals are still buried beneath the debris. A recovery team from Palestine that sifted through the rubble in Gaza City last month reported discovering the remains of 112 individuals from the same family.