Families of Canadian soldiers laid to rest in Gaza are urging the Canadian government to take stronger measures to safeguard the gravesites of their beloved ones. They are requesting the repatriation of the remains of the 22 Canadian soldiers interred at the Gaza War Cemetery, which has suffered repeated damages attributed to the Israel Defense Forces.
The cemetery, located in the Tuffah region of Gaza City, is the final resting place of Canadian servicemen who perished during a significant UN peacekeeping mission initiated after the Israeli incursion into Egypt in 1956. Recent aerial images analyzed by CBC’s visual investigations unit reveal a pattern of destruction at the hands of the IDF, including the destruction of headstones, the formation of berms using heavy machinery, deployment of military vehicles, and explosions that have caused significant damage to the Canadian peacekeepers’ section.
Relatives of soldiers like Paul Picard and Adriaan Bons, buried in the desecrated plot, expressed their distress over the situation. Lia Bons, after observing the altered landscape, lamented the disappearance of headstones, leaving behind only a barren expanse. Marguerite Picard voiced her desire to relocate her brother’s remains beside their parents, emphasizing the wish for a proper memorial.
Upon inquiry by CBC News, an IDF representative from the 401st Brigade Combat Team cited the need to demolish a tunnel beneath the cemetery as a justification for the extensive excavation work. The operation, conducted without regard for the soldiers’ graves overseen by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, resulted in irreparable damage to the burial site.
The destruction witnessed at the Gaza War Cemetery has sparked outrage among families, who lament the disregard shown towards the final resting places of their loved ones. As efforts to assess the extent of the damage continue, concerns persist over the lack of access hindering comprehensive evaluation and restoration initiatives. Global Affairs Canada has expressed deep concern over the reports of damage and emphasized the importance of upholding the sanctity of historical and memorial sites dedicated to fallen servicemen.