A CNN investigation has uncovered and documented an incident in which an Israeli military bulldozer was used to bury the body of a Palestinian man in the Gaza Strip, an act that international law experts state violates fundamental humanitarian protocols for handling the dead during conflict.
The investigation, utilizing high-definition video footage, satellite imagery analysis, and interviews with officials and legal experts, centers on events near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza. The key video evidence shows a body wrapped in white cloth being dragged across the ground by a bulldozer, which then buries it under sand. Minutes later, a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) arrives, exhumes the body, and places it in a bag.
Conflicting Accounts and an Organized Operation
While Israeli sources told CNN the activity was part of an intelligence operation to locate and recover the remains of Israeli soldiers killed during the war, they provided no explanation for the presence of the Palestinian civilian’s body or the rationale for its preliminary burial. The ICRC stated it had no prior knowledge the body had been buried before its arrival and that its role was strictly limited to receiving remains reportedly “found” at the site, with no involvement in the excavation method.
CNN’s geolocation and analysis of satellite imagery confirmed the site’s location near the Zikim crossing and showed Israeli engineering units operating there for days, indicating an organized military operation rather than a spontaneous event. The area had previously been crowded with civilians awaiting aid, raising concerns that other bodies may be present.
Experts Cite Clear Violations of International Law
Military and legal analysts consulted by CNN uniformly criticized the actions depicted. They noted that the procedure—burying a body with a bulldozer only to exhume it moments later—is entirely inconsistent with standard forensic protocols for recovering remains, which require meticulous documentation, careful handling, and coordination with humanitarian organizations.
Two experts in international humanitarian law stated that using a bulldozer to bury a body without documenting its identity, the cause of death, or the location constitutes a clear breach of the Geneva Conventions. These rules mandate detailed recording of such information and notification to families. One observer described the scene as showing a “complete disregard for humanitarian standards,” while rights experts warned such practices could amount to grave violations of international law, particularly if done without genuine operational necessity.
Pain Compounded for Families of the Missing
The investigation included testimony from Palestinian officials who suggested the Israeli forces may have been attempting to “create the impression” of soldier remains at the site or to obscure evidence of prior killings. Furthermore, it highlighted the anguish of families of missing Palestinians in Gaza, who fear the remains of their loved ones are being moved or anonymously buried. For them, the footage has intensified their pain and deepened unanswered questions about the fate and final resting places of the deceased.
The findings present serious questions about the military’s procedures for handling human remains and its adherence to international legal obligations during the conflict in Gaza.
Source: CNN (edited by Al-Manar English Website)
