Hamas has accused Israel of attempting to obscure evidence of what it describes as serious crimes against Palestinians in Gaza, amid a war that has continued for more than two years. The Palestinian organisation made the allegation in a statement issued late on Monday, 7 September.
According to Hamas, large quantities of rubble are being removed, crushed and transported from areas where people remain missing and where the remains of those killed may still be located. The organisation claims that such activity risks destroying material evidence that could be relevant to investigations into alleged killings and other violations committed during the conflict.
Hamas said thousands of people remain unaccounted for in Gaza, with some believed to be buried beneath collapsed buildings and other debris. It argued that the rubble itself, together with human remains and objects recovered from affected sites, could provide important evidence for establishing what happened at locations targeted during the war.
The organisation also claimed that interfering with sites, human remains and other potential evidence would contravene international law and orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In proceedings concerning allegations of genocide in Gaza, the court has ordered measures relating to the preservation of evidence relevant to the case.
Hamas called on the United Nations, international judicial bodies and other relevant authorities to take urgent steps to protect sites that could be significant for future investigations. It also demanded the deployment of international investigative teams and forensic specialists to assist with the recovery, identification, documentation and preservation of human remains and other evidence.
The issue has become particularly sensitive because Gaza faces an enormous reconstruction challenge after extensive destruction of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. Clearing unstable structures and removing rubble is essential for rescue operations, public safety and the eventual rebuilding of communities. At the same time, clearing sites before they have been properly examined could make it more difficult to establish the circumstances surrounding deaths and destruction, according to the concerns raised by Hamas.
The recovery of human remains is also a humanitarian issue for families whose relatives have disappeared during the conflict. Identifying remains can be extremely difficult when buildings have collapsed and bodies have been buried beneath large quantities of debris. For families, locating and properly burying relatives can provide a measure of closure after prolonged uncertainty.
Hamas therefore argued that reconstruction and evidence preservation should be addressed together. It described the rapid removal of rubble and rebuilding of Gaza as an urgent humanitarian and national necessity, while insisting that potentially significant sites should first be documented and protected where required.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the statement does not by itself establish that evidence is being deliberately destroyed. Israel’s position on the specific claims was not included in the report.
The dispute comes as questions over accountability for conduct during the Gaza war remain before international institutions. Preserving physical evidence, identifying human remains and documenting damaged sites can be critical to any future investigation, particularly when access to affected areas is limited and conditions on the ground continue to change.
Hamas said international involvement was necessary to ensure that evidence is not lost during the clearance of Gaza’s vast quantities of rubble. It maintained that protecting such material would serve not only potential judicial investigations but also the rights of families seeking the remains of missing relatives.
