UN Expert Warns Israeli Rubble Clearance in Gaza May Destroy Atrocity Evidence and Prevent Human Remains Recovery
A United Nations expert, Francesca Albanese, has issued a warning that Israel's ongoing clearance of rubble in Gaza could lead to the destruction of crucial evidence related to "atrocity crimes" and hinder efforts to recover human remains. Following the October 2023 Hamas raid into Israel, the Israeli assault on Gaza has resulted in approximately 61 million tons of wreckage and debris, which the UN estimates could take seven years to clear. Albanese, the UN expert on Palestinian territories, emphasized that evidence should be collected and human remains identified before comprehensive clearance operations commence. She stated that the rubble in Gaza is not merely construction waste but constitutes a crime scene, a graveyard, and a material record of the events during the two-year bombing campaign. Albanese also noted that multiple sources have indicated the involvement of Israeli companies in the clearance, though her office did not immediately provide details on these sources. Israeli officials have not y...
