UN rights chief says recovery of hundreds of bodies from rubble in Gaza raises concerns of war crimes

GENEVA: The UN human rights chief has expressed grave concerns over the discovery of hundreds of bodies buried beneath the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes in Gaza during the three-year conflict. Volker Turk highlighted that the remains of entire families, predominantly women and children, have been unearthed from various sites.

He described the situation as "heartbreaking" as families have long feared for their loved ones. Turk's statements echo a 2024 UN report that raised similar concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law during Israeli strikes on residential and civilian targets early in the war. The Israeli government and its foreign ministry have declined to comment on the issue.

Israel maintains it has acted within international law while combating Hamas in Gaza, a stance that has been rejected by the international community. The destruction in Gaza is extensive, with about 61 million tonnes of debris that might take up to seven years to clear, as reported by the UN. A US-backed ceasefire was implemented in October 2025, yet both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the truce.

As of November 2025, over 630 bodies had been recovered from destroyed structures in Gaza, with the Palestinian Civil Defence estimating that more than 8,000 people are still buried under the rubble. Turk expressed his fears that the remains found so far might only represent a small fraction of the total casualties. He also criticized Israel for continuing to destroy areas under its military presence, alleging the lack of respect for human remains beneath the rubble.

The 2023 Hamas-led attacks in Israel resulted in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals, according to Israeli figures. Over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign, while Gaza health authorities report a higher toll. Turk urged international investigators to be granted access to all parts of Gaza to aid in the preservation of evidence, citing ongoing legal proceedings that examine the conduct during the war.

Israel has obstructed the entry of heavy machinery necessary for the removal of rubble, according to Turk's report. Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on Palestinian territories, has emphasized the importance of gathering evidence and identifying human remains before initiating full clearance operations. Recently, the Palestinian Civil Defence reported the recovery of 96 bodies and human remains from a single location in Gaza City's Zeitoun area, including 58 children and 23 women.