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.
Areas in war-devastated Gaza continue to be razed by Israeli bulldozers with “no respect for the dead”, the United Nations’ human rights chief has said.
Volker Turk criticised Israel’s actions in clearing rubble in the enclave in a statement issued on Tuesday. His words come as the discovery of “extensive” remains have heightened concerns that evidence of war crimes is being destroyed or concealed.
“Much of Gaza has been flattened by Israeli bombing or demolition and clearing by heavy machinery and explosives,” he said, warning that areas where the Israeli military remains deployed “continue to be levelled by bulldozers with no respect for the dead under the rubble”.
Turk said he feared the remains recovered so far could be “only the tip of the iceberg,” noting that large parts of Gaza had been flattened by Israeli bombing or later demolition and clearance operations.