Key facts
- A UN expert warned that Israel's clearance of Gaza's rubble could destroy evidence of "atrocity crimes".
- Francesca Albanese stated that rubble in Gaza is part of a crime scene and a graveyard.
- She indicated that multiple sources confirmed Israeli companies were involved in the clearance.
- Palestinian authorities estimate over 8,000 people remain buried in the wreckage.
A United Nations expert has warned that Israel's ongoing clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy valuable evidence of "atrocity crimes" and prevent the recovery of human remains. Francesca Albanese, the UN expert on the Palestinian territories, stated that the rubble is not just construction waste but part of a crime scene and a graveyard.
Albanese issued a statement emphasizing that evidence should be gathered and human remains identified before full clearance begins, suggesting that Palestinians should lead any waste removal plans. She indicated that multiple sources had confirmed Israeli companies were involved in the clearance, though she did not name these sources. Her office did not immediately respond to questions regarding the origin of this information.
Israel's assault on Gaza, which began after the Hamas raid into Israel in October 2023, has generated approximately 61 million tons of wreckage. The United Nations estimates that clearing this debris could take up to seven years. In the past, Israel's Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister's Office, and military have fiercely disagreed with Albanese, who has become a prominent critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza.
In February, Germany, France, and Italy condemned what they described as her overly negative statements about Israel, which she denied making. In July of the previous year, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Albanese, citing her efforts to prompt the International Criminal Court to take action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives. UN experts are commissioned by the Human Rights Council to monitor human rights crises but operate independently.
According to Israeli tallies, the 2023 Hamas-led attacks resulted in 1,200 deaths in Israel and 251 hostages taken. Gaza health authorities report that over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign. Israel maintains it has made efforts to avoid civilian casualties, while Hamas denies claims that it uses Gaza's civilians as human shields. Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 8,000 people remain buried under the wreckage.