UN Envoy Warns Israel Against Destroying Gaza Evidence
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, has voiced concerns that Israeli debris-clearing operations in Gaza could potentially destroy evidence of "atrocity crimes." She emphasized the critical need to collect evidence and identify human remains before commencing a full-scale cleanup.
Albanese stated that the war has generated an estimated 61 million tons of debris, with clearance potentially taking seven years. "In a devastated Gaza, the rubble is not just construction waste," she declared. "It is part of a crime scene, a cemetery, and the material traces of what happened."
She further alleged that multiple sources confirmed the involvement of Israeli companies in these clearing operations, though she did not identify them or specify the origin of this information. Albanese also believes that Palestinians should be involved in planning any debris removal projects.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister's office, and the IDF had not immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters. Israeli authorities have consistently rejected Albanese's accusations, as she has been a prominent international critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza. In July 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Albanese, citing her efforts to encourage the International Criminal Court to act against U.S. and Israeli officials and companies.
