Gaza Herald – The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported that Israeli occupation forces have destroyed or partially damaged 93.5% of cemeteries in the Gaza Strip as part of the ongoing genocidal war since October 2023.
The organization stated that the systematic targeting of graves not only violates international humanitarian law but also reflects deliberate policies of erasure, aiming to obliterate physical traces of the dead, inflict severe psychological harm on the living, and undermine collective memory and historical ties to the land.
Euro-Med analyzed 62 official cemeteries across Gaza’s five governorates. It found that 39 were completely destroyed (62.9%), 19 suffered partial damage (30.6%), and only 4 remained intact (6.4%). The report emphasized that these actions were deliberate, not incidental military damage, intended to obstruct identification and documentation of remains.
The destruction often involved exhuming graves and converting cemeteries into military outposts without any independent oversight or verified procedures. In some cases, bodies were removed, mixed, or returned without identification, making it nearly impossible for families to trace their loved ones.
Euro-Med warned that this systematic targeting constitutes a grave violation of customary and codified international humanitarian law, and may amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute. The monitor stressed that these acts intersect with Israel’s broader genocidal practices in Gaza, targeting both the living and dead to erase collective identity and impede accountability.
The organization called on the International Criminal Court to treat cemetery destruction, grave desecration, and interference with human remains as separate war crimes, launch targeted investigations, and issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials with direct or command responsibility.
Euro-Med urged the UN Human Rights Council to prioritize investigations into these crimes, ensure forensic and technical support, and establish a DNA bank and centralized registry for missing persons to restore dignity and allow families to locate and bury their relatives. It also called on UNESCO and cultural organizations to protect historical and culturally significant cemeteries, document damages, and provide technical assistance to prevent further destruction.
The report highlighted the urgent need for the international community to enforce compliance with international law, impose targeted sanctions on responsible parties, and demand the immediate return of hundreds of missing bodies with proper identification and respectful handling.
