Israel’s removal of Gaza rubble risk to war crimes evidence: UN
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Original Source
The UN warned that Israel's rubble clearance operations in Gaza could destroy evidence of war crimes, cautioning that states and companies involved face international criminal responsibility. The warning comes two years after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take effective measures to preserve evidence related to genocide allegations.
Israel’s clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy evidence of war crimes, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied territories has warned.
States and companies removing the rubble “could incur international criminal responsibility” for destroying evidence of crimes committed during Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, Francesca Albanese said on Monday.
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It has been two years since the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take effective measures to prevent the destruction of evidence relating to allegations under the Genocide Convention.
“It is unacceptable that the reconstruction of Gaza is conditioned upon the erasure of its past and the evidence required to secure justice for its victims”, said Albanese, a harsh critic of Israel.
The Israeli military carried out a huge operation in August to crush, mix and transport millions of tonnes of rubble from numerous sites, including cemeteries and other known locations of human remains.
A report by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor issued last month said the removal of debris from Gaza could be an attempt at demographic engineering and erasing evidence of the genocide.
Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 8,000 people remain buried under the debris, with many in Gaza still searching for the remains of loved ones. Israel continues to block the heavy machinery and forensic supplies needed to recover bodies.
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 head of Gaza’s civil defence service, Raed al-Dahshan, told Al Jazeera that with proper equipment, recovering remains from under the rubble could be completed in about 90 days, but it could take years without it.
States and companies removing the rubble “could incur international criminal responsibility” for destroying evidence of crimes committed during Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, Francesca Albanese said on Monday.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items
list 1 of 4Palestinians mourn loved ones in mass funeral in Gaza City
list 2 of 4Photos: Gaza holds funeral for 100 Palestinians recovered from rubble
list 3 of 4Seven mouths, one meal: Feeding a family through Gaza’s food crisis
list 4 of 4Eight-year-old Gaza girl killed by Israel on first day of school
end of list
It has been two years since the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take effective measures to prevent the destruction of evidence relating to allegations under the Genocide Convention.
“It is unacceptable that the reconstruction of Gaza is conditioned upon the erasure of its past and the evidence required to secure justice for its victims”, said Albanese, a harsh critic of Israel.
The Israeli military carried out a huge operation in August to crush, mix and transport millions of tonnes of rubble from numerous sites, including cemeteries and other known locations of human remains.
A report by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor issued last month said the removal of debris from Gaza could be an attempt at demographic engineering and erasing evidence of the genocide.
Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 8,000 people remain buried under the debris, with many in Gaza still searching for the remains of loved ones. Israel continues to block the heavy machinery and forensic supplies needed to recover bodies.
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 head of Gaza’s civil defence service, Raed al-Dahshan, told Al Jazeera that with proper equipment, recovering remains from under the rubble could be completed in about 90 days, but it could take years without it.
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Tags:#فلسطين#غزة#جرائم حرب#الأمم المتحدة#أدلة جنائية
Source: Al Jazeera
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