UN Expert Warns Israel's Gaza Rubble Removal May Destroy Evidence

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, stated on Monday that Israel's removal of rubble in the Gaza Strip could destroy valuable evidence of "atrocious crimes" and prevent the recovery of bodies.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza, launched after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has resulted in an estimated 61 million tons of debris, which the UN estimates could take seven years to clear. Albanese emphasized that evidence collection and identification of remains must precede any full-scale rubble removal.

In a statement titled "UN Expert Warns Israel's Rubble Removal May Erase Traces of Crimes and Atrocities," Albanese asserted that Palestinians should be responsible for any rubble removal plans. She described the debris not just as building remnants but as part of a "crime scene, a cemetery, and a material record of what happened during a two-year, senseless, brutal bombing campaign."

Albanese cited multiple sources, though unnamed, indicating the involvement of Israeli companies in the rubble removal process. Her office has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the source of this information, and Israeli government ministries and the military have not commented. Israel has previously strongly opposed Albanese's stance, viewing her as a harsh critic of its military operations in Gaza.

In February, Germany, France, and Italy criticized Albanese's "excessively negative" statements about Israel, which she denied making. In July of the previous year, the United States sanctioned Albanese for allegedly urging the International Criminal Court to take action against American and Israeli officials and executives.

The UN Human Rights Council mandates its experts and rapporteurs to monitor and document specific human rights crises, operating independently. Israel maintains it has made significant efforts to avoid civilian casualties, while Hamas denies using civilians as human shields in densely populated areas, as Israel claims.

Hamas issued a statement appreciating Albanese's warning and urging that rubble removal "include the recovery of the bodies of the missing and the preservation of evidence." Palestinian authorities estimate that over 8,000 bodies remain buried under the rubble. A Palestinian team clearing debris in Gaza City last month reported finding the remains of 112 individuals from the same clan.