Albanese warns Israel against erasing evidence of international crimes in Gaza rubble
Agencies3 min read
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The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Palestine, Francesca Albanese, has called for ensuring that debris removal operations in the Gaza Strip do not lead to the erasure of evidence of international crimes and atrocities committed by Israel in the territory.
In a statement regarding the situation in Gaza, which is under Israeli occupation, attacks, and blockade, Albanese said on Monday that the large-scale debris removal operations currently underway under Israeli military control must not become a means to erase traces of atrocity crimes or consolidate Israel's "illegal occupation."
She added that "the ongoing debris removal, demolition, and resettlement operations in Gaza must not destroy evidence of international crimes (committed by Israel) or hinder the recovery and identification of human remains in the besieged area."
She noted that the rubble in Gaza contains human remains and physical evidence linked to investigations into international crimes, including genocide.
Albanese stated that Palestinian officials estimate there are more than 10,000 people under the rubble, pointing out that about 70 percent of Gaza is subject to access restrictions and varying degrees of Israeli military control.
She said that the rubble in Gaza "is not just construction waste, but part of a crime scene, a graveyard, and a physical record of what happened during two years of a brutal and senseless bombing campaign."
She pointed out that the possibility of human remains being in Gaza's rubble is "far from theoretical," explaining that on August 4, 2026, Palestinians buried the remains of 112 members of a single family, recovered from the ruins of buildings destroyed in November 2023 after 17 days of work, while the remains of 41 others killed in the same attack have yet to be reached.
Albanese emphasized the importance of accessing Palestinians under the rubble and identifying them before the arrival of the Israeli army or its allies.
She stated that state actors and companies involved in debris removal "must not forget that they may bear international criminal responsibility linked to these crimes if they destroy their evidence."
She stressed that any debris removal operation must be carried out within a plan supported by entities designed by Palestinians and that have earned their trust, adding that "destroying evidence of atrocity crimes is illegal."
She added that "it is unacceptable for the reconstruction of Gaza to be linked to erasing its past and the evidence necessary to achieve justice for the victims."
Israel has waged a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip for two years, which, according to Palestinian data, has resulted in the killing of more than 73,000 Palestinians and the injury of over 174,000, in addition to more than 9,000 missing, alongside widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure.
