Watan-Middle East Eye reported on a state of horror and shock engulfing Palestinians amid the Israeli army’s demolition of cemeteries in the Gaza Strip.

The report stated that the sight of cemeteries destroyed by Israeli forces in Gaza has left Palestinians in shock. Israeli bulldozers demolished several graveyards in the northern part of the Strip during their ongoing ground incursion.

After tanks withdrew from some cemeteries and surrounding areas a few days ago, returning residents began assessing the extent of the damage.

Abed Sabah, a journalist based in Gaza, stated that Israeli forces left nothing in its place.

In a report from the destroyed Faluja cemetery in Jabalia, Sabah mentioned that military bulldozers dug up graves, causing some graves to mix with each other.

Some desperate residents tried to find their deceased relatives among the rubble in the hope of reassembling their graves.

One resident said, “I came to visit the graves of my brother and uncle, but I couldn’t find them. I dug and searched for their names, but I couldn’t find them.”

Destruction of at least six cemeteries

According to The New York Times, Israeli forces have destroyed at least six cemeteries in the northern Gaza Strip in the past few weeks.

In one instance, the report found that satellite images showed armored vehicles operating over intact graves in the Shejaiya neighborhood in Gaza City.

Footage captured by local journalists in other cemeteries revealed the traces of bulldozers and tombstones.

The affected cemeteries are located in the towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, as well as in Gaza City.

The Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights documented the damage to the Faluja Cemetery and the cemeteries of Ali ibn Marwan, Sheikh Radwan, Martyrs, Sheikh Shaaban, as well as the Cemetery of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City and the Martyrs Cemetery in Beit Lahia.

Jake Godin, an investigative journalist at Scripps News who analyzed satellite images, stated that before-and-after pictures show the removal of bulldozer tracks or sanitation activity in some cemeteries.

He added, “When you look at satellite images, you see that there are no more tombstones. It’s just dirt, barriers, dust, and traces of Israeli military vehicles.”

The partially cleared Ben Marwan Cemetery in Shejaiya was also observed, with Israeli soldiers photographed firing through the cemetery and even launching gunfire from a grenade launcher.

Body theft

The deliberate attacks on cemeteries and other places of religious significance can be considered war crimes.

The Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights accused Israeli forces of “destroying dozens of graves in complete disregard for the sanctity of the deceased.”

In addition to the cemetery destruction, the human rights organization stated that the Israeli army had vandalized some graves and “stolen bodies believed to belong to Palestinian activists.”

The organization said in a statement that “Israel systematically violates the sanctity of the dead and cemeteries in a blatant violation of the principles of international humanitarian law and the rules of war regarding the protection of cemeteries during armed conflicts.”

The destruction of cemeteries has also prevented Palestinians from accessing graves, forcing many to bury their relatives in unconventional places throughout the Gaza Strip.

Footage published by local media showed residents using markets, roadside edges, and hospital courtyards as makeshift burial sites.

The challenges of burial pose a significant difficulty in northern Gaza, especially due to the high number of casualties resulting from the ongoing Israeli war.