UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese warned that removing and crushing rubble in Gaza could destroy evidence of alleged international crimes and hinder the recovery of human remains.
UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese says rubble contains human remains and evidence relevant to investigations into alleged international crimes.
The removal and crushing of rubble in Gaza could destroy evidence of alleged international crimes and obstruct efforts to recover and identify human remains, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese warned Monday.
Albanese said states and companies involved in clearing the debris could face international criminal responsibility if their actions result in the destruction of evidence of crimes committed during Israel’s war in Gaza.
“The ongoing removal, crushing and relocation of rubble in Gaza must not destroy evidence of international crimes or prevent the recovery and identification of human remains in the besieged enclave,” Albanese said in a statement.
She said the rubble contains human remains and physical evidence that could be relevant to investigations into alleged international crimes, including genocide. She called for remains to be recovered and identified, potential evidence to be systematically documented and preserved, and international criminal investigators to oversee evidence collection before rubble is moved or crushed.
Text Reads: UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese warned that Israel’s involvement in the removal of rubble in Gaza could conceal crimes committed in the region.
She cautioned that the rubble contains human remains and evidence of alleged international crimes, including genocide.
The warning comes two years after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take effective measures to prevent the destruction of evidence related to allegations under the Genocide Convention.
Albanese also said any rubble removal should be carried out under a plan designed by Palestinians and backed by actors trusted by them.
“Any removal must happen in the context of a plan designed by Palestinians and supported by actors who have the trust of Palestinians,” she said.
Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 10,000 people remain buried under the debris, while many people in Gaza continue to search for the remains of relatives. Israel continues to block the heavy machinery and forensic supplies needed to recover bodies, according to the press releases.
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.
The Israeli military carried out a large-scale operation in August to crush, mix and transport millions of tonnes of rubble from numerous sites, including cemeteries and other locations where human remains are known to be present.
Raed al-Dahshan, head of Gaza’s civil defence service, said recovering remains from beneath the rubble could take about 90 days with proper equipment, but years without it.
Albanese said the removal of debris must not prevent the recovery of remains or the preservation of evidence needed for investigations.
“Destroying evidence of atrocity crimes is illegal,” she said. She also warned that reconstruction must not be “conditioned upon the erasure of its past and the evidence required to secure justice for its victims.”
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