United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has stated that Israel is clearing rubble in the Gaza Strip with "no respect for the dead," as bulldozers raze areas where bodies remain buried.

Turk issued a statement on Tuesday expressing concern that the ongoing demolition and clearing operations could be destroying or concealing evidence of war crimes. His remarks come amid the discovery of extensive human remains from beneath destroyed buildings, fueling fears that victims, including entire families, are being lost without proper identification or respect.

"Much of Gaza has been flattened by Israeli bombing or demolition and clearing by heavy machinery and explosives," Turk said, adding that areas where the Israeli military operates "continue to be levelled by bulldozers with no respect for the dead under the rubble." He noted that the unearthed remains often belong to women and children, making the confirmation of the worst fears for families of the missing "heartbreaking."

The scale of destruction in Gaza is immense, with an estimated 61 million tonnes of wreckage and debris generated by the conflict. The UN has projected that clearing this debris could take as long as seven years. A US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025 has not halted Israeli strikes, with Gaza officials reporting over 1,300 Palestinian deaths since its implementation.

Palestinian Civil Defence has recovered more than 630 bodies and human remains from under destroyed buildings across Gaza since November 2025. Palestinian authorities estimate that over 8,000 people may still be buried in the wreckage. Turk cautioned that the remains recovered so far might represent "only the tip of the iceberg" given the widespread flattening of urban areas.

The UN official also reiterated concerns about Israel's conduct during hostilities, particularly its extensive use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas. He argued that such tactics often fail to distinguish effectively between civilians and combatants, raising questions about compliance with international humanitarian law.

"The discovery of extensive remains under the rubble in Gaza City resurfaces these concerns of war crimes and other atrocity crimes," Turk stated. He highlighted that the reported killing of large numbers of family members, including vulnerable groups like children, women, and persons with disabilities, in attacks on residential buildings, raises grave concerns regarding adherence to the rules governing the conduct of hostilities.

These findings and statements underscore the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and intensify scrutiny on the methods employed in the conflict, particularly regarding the preservation of evidence and respect for deceased individuals and their families.