British and allied war graves bulldozed in Gaza cemetery during war with Israel

Satellite imagery of the cemetery in al-Tuffah - in Gaza, formerly part of British-run Mandatory Palestine - shows extensive damage to its southernmost corner.

Bomb craters are seen around the area, but the damage in the corner appears to be intentional and systematic.

Gravestones of Commonwealth troops who died fighting Ottoman forces have been removed by the row, and topsoil has been churned up.

The size, based on satellite imagery, suggests the use of heavy equipment.

The earthworks are visible via satellite image from August 8, and the upturned area is clearer as seen in an image from December 13.

Essam Jaradah, the graveyard’s former caretaker, told The Guardian: “Two bulldozing operations took place at the cemetery.

“The first bulldozing occurred outside the cemetery walls, extending approximately 12 metres around all sides of the cemetery. These areas were entirely planted with olive trees.

“Later on, an area of slightly less than one dunum [1,000 square metres] was bulldozed inside the cemetery walls, specifically in the corner of the cemetery, which contains graves of Australian soldiers.

“The bulldozing covered the area from the bench where foreign visitors used to sit up to the memorial monument. Bulldozers also created sand mounds that were used as earth barriers.

“I witnessed this bulldozing after the Israeli army withdrew from the area, around late April or early May.”

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had been forced to take defensive measures in the heat of battle.

An army spokesman said: “At the relevant time, the area in question was an active combat zone. 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.”

The spokesperson added: “We emphasise that underground terrorist infrastructure was identified within the cemetery and in its surrounding area, which the IDF located and dismantled. IDF activity in sensitive areas is approved by senior ranks in the army and handled with the required sensitivity needed.”

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said: “We are saddened to hear that graves of British and allied personnel who bravely served in the first and second world wars have been damaged.

“War graves honour the memory of every member of the armed forces who has made the ultimate sacrifice and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.”

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, an organisation responsible for the upkeep of the Gaza cemetery, reported damage to a memorial to the 54th Infantry Division of the British army on December 11.

Satellite imagery revealed that a plot dedicated to Canadian UN peacekeepers was razed, as well as two whole sections of the main graveyard.

More than 100 allied soldiers who served in the second world war, the majority Australians, along with a few British and Polish servicemen, are buried there.

Four sections of graves dedicated to soldiers who died in the First World War have been demolished.

Almost all the graves in these sections belonged to UK regiments.