Overview
- Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory, warned Monday that large‑scale crushing and removal of rubble in Israeli‑controlled parts of Gaza could destroy human remains and other forensic material.
- Albanese said Gaza's debris contains physical evidence relevant to investigations including alleged genocide and she urged international criminal investigators to oversee recovery, documentation and chain‑of‑custody procedures.
- Her office reported receiving credible information in August about deliberate, widespread removal, crushing and transport operations and said Israeli sources confirmed talks with Israeli companies about large‑scale demolition and recycling work.
- The United Nations estimates roughly 61 million tonnes of wreckage that could take years to clear while Palestinian authorities say thousands remain buried and recent recovery teams found 112 members of one extended family.
- The statement raises immediate practical and legal stakes for reconstruction because independent oversight, systematic site recording, proper forensic tools and unfettered access are needed to preserve remains and evidence for future war‑crime probes.