Australian soldiers’ bodies ‘very likely’ disturbed by Israeli bulldozing at Gaza cemetery, senator says

The bodies of Australian soldiers buried in Gaza have “very likely” been disturbed, the independent senator David Pocock says, as new photos tendered to parliament show widespread damage of graves by Israeli bulldozers.

About 146 of the 263 graves of Australian soldiers buried in Gaza have been damaged, Senate estimates heard last week.

New pictures tendered to Senate estimates show damage to headstones, as well as tonnes of earth displaced and pushed into high berms.

The director of the Office of Australian War Graves, Maj Gen Wade Stothart, also told estimates that it was “quite possible” that the bodies of soldiers had been disturbed, moved or damaged.

Pocock told the Guardian: “Department of Veterans Affairs officials have now confirmed that it’s quite possible the bodies of our fallen soldiers have been disturbed.

“But looking at the pictures that have now emerged, I’d say it looks very likely.”

Most of the 263 Australian graves in Gaza cemetery are those of light horsemen who served in the first world war. But the worst damage has been sustained to the southern corner of the cemetery, which houses the graves of Australians who died during the second world war.

The Tuffah area of Gaza City, in which the cemetery sits, has been shelled throughout the current conflict. But more systematic and extensive damage caused by Israel Defense Forces bulldozers occurred in April and May of last year to the southern corner of the cemetery. Hundreds of graves have been desecrated and earthen berms built up across the cemetery.

The revelations, published in the Guardian, caused widespread outrage, including from Australian families who spoke of their shock at learning their relatives’ graves had been bulldozed and that their remains were unaccounted for.

Stothart was asked about the damage last week, telling Senate estimates: “The photographs and the satellite imagery that have been reported in the media are very evident of severe damage.”

“A detailed survey and assessment of every grave, the remains and the amount of damage that has occurred are difficult to assess at this stage,” Stothart said. “We have not received direct reports that human remains have been exposed or damaged directly.

“However, from looking at the imagery and the overhead satellite imagery, it’s quite possible that Australian servicemen in war graves have been affected by the damage that’s occurred.”

Asked whether he would expect that the bodies of Australian soldiers had been disturbed, Stothart said: “It’s quite possible, but, again, the direct hard evidence will require on-the-ground assessment and survey of the burial plots and the graves that have been affected.”

There was no current plan or timeline to repair the graves because of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Pocock told the estimates hearing he had been contacted by a number of constituents “very concerned” about potential damage to the graves of family members.

He later told the Guardian: “Amid other breaches of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is appalling that Australian war graves in Gaza have been bulldozed by the Israeli Defence Force.”

The independent senator said the latest revelations “will be distressing for the descendants of those of soldiers and many Australians”. He said the Australian government should press Israel to restore the graves.

After being shown satellite images of the damage to Gaza cemetery, the IDF said it had been forced to take defensive measures during military operations.

“During IDF operations in the area, terrorists attempted to attack IDF troops and took cover in structures close to the cemetery. In response, to ensure the safety of IDF troops operating on the ground, operational measures were taken in the area to neutralise identified threats.”

Last month the Canadian broadcaster CBC reported that the IDF had confirmed it had excavated below the graves up to a depth of 30 metres, but could not say whether it had taken any steps to preserve human remains. It said it excavated the cemetery to destroy a Hamas tunnel.

Australian families have demanded an apology from the state of Israel, as well as promises it would pay for reparations.

The office of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, last month said he had told the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, he had “committed to checking the issue with the relevant officials and authorities upon his return to Israel”.

Further questions to Herzog’s office have received no response.