UN Warns Israel's Rubble Clearance in Gaza May Destroy War Crimes Evidence

The United Nations has warned that Israel's clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy evidence related to war crimes. Francesca Albanese, the UN's Special Rapporteur on the occupied territories, stated that states and companies involved in the rubble removal could face international criminal responsibility for erasing evidence of crimes committed during the conflict. This warning comes two years after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent the destruction of evidence pertaining to allegations under the Genocide Convention. Albanese criticized the reconstruction efforts in Gaza, stating, "It is unacceptable that the reconstruction of Gaza is conditioned upon the erasure of its past and the evidence required to secure justice for its victims." In August, the Israeli military conducted a significant operation to crush and transport millions of tonnes of rubble from various sites, including cemeteries. A report from the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor indicated that the debris removal could be seen as an attempt at demographic engineering and erasing evidence of genocide. Palestinian authorities estimate that over 8,000 individuals remain buried under the debris, with ongoing searches for the remains of loved ones. Israel has reportedly blocked the entry of heavy machinery and forensic supplies necessary for body recovery. Recently, Palestinians in northern Gaza held funeral ceremonies for approximately 100 individuals, including 60 children, whose remains were recovered from the rubble. Raed al-Dahshan, head of Gaza’s civil defense service, mentioned that with adequate equipment, the recovery of remains could be completed in about 90 days, but it may take years without it.