UN human rights chief Volker Turk criticized Israel's clearance of debris in Gaza, saying it shows "no respect for the dead." He noted that extensive remains of entire families, many of whom were women and children, are being found under rubble from Israeli attacks. Since October 2025, more than 630 bodies have been recovered from destroyed buildings, with an estimated 8,000 people still buried in wreckage. Turk expressed fear this could be the tip of the iceberg and raised concerns about potential war crimes and violations of international law regarding conduct during hostilities.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
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Leaning score withheld for article 11972: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-15
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.
asserted
chief → devastate → dead
Volker Turk criticised Israel’s actions in clearing rubble in the enclave in a statement issued on Tuesday.
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Turk → criticise → Tuesday
His words come as the discovery of “extensive” remains have heightened concerns that evidence of war crimes is being destroyed or concealed.
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evidence → come → crimes
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“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”.
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military → terrorise → rubble
The UN human rights chief said the remains of what appeared to be entire families were being unearthed from sites that were destroyed during Israeli attacks, adding that many victims were women and children.
“It is heartbreaking that the loved ones of those missing for so long are only now having their worst fears confirmed,” he said.
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he → say → those
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has generated about 61 million tonnes of wreckage and debris.
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war → generate → wreckage
It could take seven years to clear the debris, the UN has estimated.
uncertain
UN → take → debris
A US-brokered “ceasefire” in October 2025 has failed to halt regular Israeli strikes and attacks, with more than 1,300 Palestinians killed since the “truce” came into effect, according to Gaza officials.
uncertain
truce → broker → officials
Widespread destruction
Palestinian Civil Defence says more than 630 bodies and human remains have been recovered from beneath destroyed buildings across Gaza since November 2025.
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bodies → say → November
Palestinian authorities estimate more than 8,000 people remain buried in the wreckage.
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people → estimate → wreckage
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.
uncertain
parts → say → bombing
The UN official also reiterated his concerns over Israel’s conduct, including its extensive use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, which he said failed to effectively distinguish between civilians and fighters.
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he → reiterate → civilians
“The discovery of extensive remains under the rubble in Gaza City resurfaces these concerns of war crimes and other atrocity crimes,” he added.
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he → resurface → crimes
“The reported killing of large numbers of family members, including children, women and persons with disabilities, in attacks on residential buildings, raises grave concerns regarding compliance with the rules governing the conduct of hostilities,” he said.
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he → report → hostilities
On September 6, Palestinians in northern Gaza held funerals for about 100 people, including 60 children, whose remains were recovered from the rubble of destroyed buildings.
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remains → hold → buildings
Despite last year’s agreement to halt the hostilities, the Israeli military continues its operations in Gaza.
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military → halt → Gaza
One Palestinian was killed by sniper fire in the north of the enclave on Tuesday.
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Palestinian → kill → Tuesday
The man was in the Jabalia refugee camp when he was shot by a sniper positioned on a high-rise crane, Al Jazeera reporters said.
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reporters → shoot → crane
At least two other people were killed in an Israeli drone attack on an industrial area of Gaza City, according to a source from the enclave’s Ambulance and Emergencies service.
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people → kill → service
The Aporia
