UN rapporteur warns Gaza rubble removal may destroy war crimes evidence

September 8, 2026 at 02:00 AM2 min

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UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese warned on Monday that Israel's clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy evidence of war crimes. She said states and companies removing the rubble could incur international criminal responsibility. The warning comes two years after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent destruction of evidence related to the Genocide Convention.

Key Facts

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel in 2024 to prevent the destruction of evidence related to war crimes.
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied territories, said states and companies removing rubble could incur international criminal responsibility.
Palestinian authorities estimate more than 8,000 people remain buried under the debris in Gaza.
On Sunday, Palestinians in northern Gaza held funeral ceremonies for about 100 people, including 60 children, whose remains were recovered from the rubble.
Gaza civil defence head Raed al-Dahshan said recovering remains could be completed in about 90 days with proper equipment, but could take years without it.

UN Warning

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese warned on Monday that Israel's clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy evidence of war crimes. She said states and companies removing the rubble could incur international criminal responsibility for destroying evidence of crimes committed during Israel's war on the enclave. Albanese stated that conditioning Gaza's reconstruction on the erasure of its past and the evidence required to secure justice for its victims is unacceptable. The warning comes two years after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take effective measures to prevent the destruction of evidence relating to allegations under the Genocide Convention.

Rubble Removal Operation

The Israeli military carried out a massive 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.

Recovery Efforts

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.