Israel lacking respect for dead buried in Gaza rubble: UN
Human rights chief reiterates concern over war crimes evidence as remains from entire families are unearthed.
On Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk criticized the Israeli military's handling of body recovery efforts in the Gaza Strip. Türk expressed concern that the remains retrieved so far may only represent a small portion of the total. He noted that much of Gaza has been devastated by Israeli bombing, demolition and the use of heavy machinery and explosives.
Türk stated that many areas under Israeli military deployment continue to see bulldozing activity, disregarding the dignity of the deceased whose remains are buried under the rubble. The Israeli armed forces acknowledged they were investigating these claims.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stressed that families possess the right to bury their loved ones with honor. However, the OHCHR also emphasized the necessity to secure any evidence of breaches of international law during the Israeli attacks. Türk urged all states to demand enhanced cooperation and coordination to facilitate the recovery of bodies across Gaza in a dignified and humane manner.
The OHCHR had previously documented in 2024 that Israel's utilization of heavy bombs in residential regions might have violated international law. Türk called for international investigators to be granted access to all areas of Gaza to aid in the preservation of evidence. According to the OHCHR, at least 8,000 individuals are missing in the Gaza Strip.
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- UN criticises Israel over recovery of bodies from Gaza Strip rubble qatar-tribune.com
