Israel’s removal of Gaza rubble risk to war crimes evidence: UN

What Happened

UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese warned that Israel’s clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy evidence of war crimes and that states and companies removing the rubble “could incur international criminal responsibility” for destroying evidence of crimes committed during what she called Israel’s “genocidal war on the enclave.” Albanese said it has been two years since the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take effective measures to prevent the destruction of evidence relating to allegations under the Genocide Convention. The Israeli military carried out a massive operation in August to crush, mix and transport millions of tonnes of rubble from numerous sites, including cemeteries and other known locations of human remains, according to the article. A report by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor issued last month said the removal of debris from Gaza could be an attempt at demographic engineering and erasing evidence of the genocide. Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 8,000 people remain buried under the debris. Israel continues to block the heavy machinery and forensic supplies needed to recover bodies. On Sunday, Palestinians in northern Gaza held funeral ceremonies for about 100 people, including 60 children, whose remains were recovered from the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City. Gaza’s civil defence service head Raed al-Dahshan told Al Jazeera that with proper equipment, recovering remains from under the rubble could be completed in about 90 days, but it could take years without it.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The warning connects Gaza’s physical reconstruction to potential destruction of evidence needed for international accountability at the ICJ and ICC, and raises legal exposure for third-party states and companies involved in debris removal. It highlights a direct tension between the urgent humanitarian recovery of human remains and forensic preservation, with at least 8,000 people estimated still buried under rubble and Israel blocking the heavy machinery and forensic supplies needed to recover bodies.

Watch For

Whether Israeli authorities respond to Albanese’s warning or adjust rubble-management practices; whether states or companies involved in reconstruction address their legal exposure; whether the ICJ or ICC takes up evidence-preservation concerns in ongoing proceedings; and whether Gaza’s civil defence obtains heavy machinery and forensic supplies, with al-Dahshan stating the work could be completed in about 90 days with proper equipment but years without it.