The Israel Defense Forces have informed CBC News that they conducted excavation activities up to 20 to 30 meters deep in a Gaza war cemetery where 22 Canadian soldiers are interred to eliminate a Hamas tunnel. An IDF officer, speaking anonymously to CBC News and directly involved in combat operations in the region, expressed uncertainty about the preservation of human remains amid the operations.
Initial reports of damage to the cemetery during IDF combat actions were disclosed by The Guardian on February 4. However, it was unclear until now whether the destruction was limited to surface structures like headstones and walls or extended to the buried remains, typically interred at depths of two to three meters.
CBC News sought a response from the IDF, and a spokesperson, who chose to remain anonymous, provided a statement. The Gaza Strip houses two cemeteries containing the remains of Commonwealth soldiers who perished during the First and Second World Wars and subsequent peacekeeping endeavors. The primary Gaza War Cemetery is located in the Tuffah district of Gaza City, while a smaller one is situated in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
The burial grounds primarily hold the remains of British, Australian, and Indian soldiers from the Middle Eastern campaigns of the World Wars. Notably, Flight Sgt. Reginald Bowes of the Royal Canadian Air Force, a Canadian casualty of the Second World War, is among those laid to rest there. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission reported significant damage to parts of the main cemetery, expressing concern about the inability to safeguard the sites from further harm.
The destruction also affected a smaller plot within the Gaza War Cemetery, where the remains of 22 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the 1956 UN peacekeeping mission in Egypt after the Suez Crisis were buried, now appearing to be completely obliterated.
According to the Israeli officer, the excavation operations primarily targeted the southern section of the cemetery compound. These activities took place in July and August of the previous year, with heavy machinery employed under wartime conditions to counter Hamas combatants utilizing tunnels in the area.
Relatives of the fallen soldiers expressed dismay over the desecration of the cemetery. Grace Bolton, the sister of Canadian soldier Johnny Fickling, lamented the destruction that has prevented her from visiting her brother’s final resting place. Satellite images depicting the scale of the devastation have further intensified the family’s anguish.
The Guardian utilized satellite imagery to verify the damage inflicted upon the cemetery, and the national president of the Royal Canadian Legion condemned the actions, emphasizing the distress caused to families of the deceased soldiers.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission spokesperson highlighted the current inability to access the Gaza cemeteries, which are under Israeli military control, emphasizing staff safety as a top priority. The Canadian government expressed deep concern over the reports of damage to the Gaza War Cemetery and pledged to work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to address the issue.
As the situation unfolds, the future restoration and maintenance of the cemetery remain uncertain. The destruction of the burial site has sparked outrage among veterans and concerned parties, with questions lingering about the fate of the disrupted remains.