UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese warned on September 7 that large‑scale rubble clearing in Gaza areas under Israel‘s control could destroy traces of “atrocity crimes” and complicate the search for and identification of human remains.
Francesca Albanese, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022, said the consequences of the “ongoing removal, crushing and displacement of rubble in Gaza” are “profound.” She noted that the debris contains human remains and physical evidence vital for investigating alleged international crimes, including genocide. Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 10,000 people remain buried under the rubble in the enclave.
Rubble may contain evidence of crimes
Albanese emphasized that in war‑torn Gaza, “the rubble is not just construction debris, but a crime scene, a cemetery and a material record of what happened during a brutal and senseless two‑year bombing campaign.”
The Special Rapporteur, who does not speak on behalf of the UN, said she received credible information from several sources in August about the “deliberate and large‑scale removal, crushing and transport of rubble.”
Israel‘s full‑scale war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has caused massive destruction across the enclave. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including many children. More than 1,330 people have died since the October 2024 truce. AFP estimates that the October 7 Hamas attack resulted in 1,221 deaths.
Demands for independent oversight
Albanese cited the August burial of 112 members of a single civilian family whose remains were recovered from rubble in Gaza after buildings were destroyed by Israel in November 2023. The remains of 41 other people killed in the same strike have never been found.
The expert stressed that before the occupying army or its allies decide to move people or crush rubble, they must ensure a dignified search and identification of human remains, systematically document sites and materials, preserve potentially important evidence, and maintain a continuous chain of custody under independent oversight.
She called on international criminal investigators to oversee evidence collection and warned that countries and companies involved in clearing rubble “could bear international criminal responsibility” if they destroy evidence of international crimes.
Francesca Albanese, who has long accused Israel of committing genocide and other war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, has faced harsh criticism from Israel and some of its allies. She emphasized: “Destroying evidence of atrocity crimes is illegal.”
Israel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Albanese’s statements. The US previously imposed sanctions on her after she criticized Washington’s policy regarding Gaza.
Source: The Straits Times
