Μake us preferred on Google The removal of rubble across Gaza could destroy evidence of atrocity crimes and hinder efforts to recover human remains, Francesca Albanese, the U.N. expert on the Palestinian territories, said Monday.
The United Nations estimates that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has left about 61 million tons of wreckage and debris, with the cleanup potentially taking seven years.
Albanese said authorities should first document evidence and identify human remains before proceeding with comprehensive clearance operations. She also argued that Palestinians should lead efforts to remove the debris.
“In devastated Gaza, rubble is not just construction waste,” Albanese said in a statement. She described it as a potential crime scene, graveyard and physical record of the destruction caused by the two-year bombing campaign.
Albanese said multiple sources had told her that Israeli companies were involved in clearing the rubble, although she did not identify the sources. Her office did not immediately respond to questions about the information.
Dispute Over Israel’s Role
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister’s Office and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment to Reuters.
Israeli authorities have previously strongly rejected Albanese’s criticism of the country’s military operations in Gaza. In February, Germany, France and Italy condemned what they described as excessively negative statements by Albanese about Israel, allegations she denied.
The United States sanctioned Albanese in July last year, saying she had sought to encourage the International Criminal Court to pursue action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies and executives.
U.N. experts are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to monitor and document specific human rights crises, but they operate independently of the United Nations itself.
Thousands Believed Buried Under Debris
Hamas said it welcomed Albanese’s warning and called for rubble removal to be carried out in a way that allows missing people’s remains to be recovered while preserving evidence.
Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 8,000 people remain buried beneath the wreckage. A Palestinian recovery team searching through destroyed areas of Gaza City last month reported recovering the remains of 112 members of the same clan.
The war began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, which Israeli tallies say killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.
More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military campaign, according to Gaza health authorities.
Israel says it has taken extensive measures to limit civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields in densely populated areas. Hamas denies the allegation.
