By Kasim Isa Muhammad
A recent investigation, backed by satellite imagery and social media footage, suggests that the Israeli military has desecrated graves in more than a dozen cemeteries in Gaza.
CNN, having reviewed the evidence, witnessed the destruction during their travels in an Israeli army convoy, revealing what appears to be a ‘systemic practice’ by Israeli forces in areas they have advanced into.
The onslaught by Israel on Gaza, starting on October 7, has resulted in nearly 25,000 Palestinian deaths.
Reports from Palestinian officials and human rights groups, including Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, indicate the digging up of graves and removal of bodies.
The Israeli military stated to CNN that unearthing bodies is part of their search for hostages held by Hamas, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming 253 hostages were taken by the Palestinian group on October 7.
According to Israeli officials, 132 hostages remain in Gaza.
CNN’s analysis of satellite imagery and videos exposes cemeteries turned into military outposts, with destroyed tombstones and evidence of heavy vehicles driving over graves.
The Israeli army, when provided with coordinates for the 16 affected cemeteries, couldn’t explain the destruction, stating that targeting cemeteries claimed to be used by Hamas for military purposes is at times deemed necessary.
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