Families of Canadian military personnel laid to rest in Gaza are urging the government to take stronger action to safeguard their loved ones’ gravesites. They are calling for the repatriation of the Canadian soldiers interred at the Gaza War Cemetery, which has sustained repeated damage from the Israel Defense Forces.
Located in the Tuffah district of Gaza City, the Gaza War Cemetery is the final resting place for twenty-two Canadian soldiers who perished during the UN’s inaugural major peacekeeping mission sparked by the Israeli incursion into Egypt in 1956.
Evidence from aerial imagery scrutinized by CBC’s visual investigations unit reveals a pattern of destruction at the cemetery. The IDF has systematically obliterated headstones, constructed berms using heavy machinery, stationed tanks and armored vehicles in the vicinity, and set off explosions that resulted in a section of the Canadian peacekeeper section being blasted into the air.
Relatives of two soldiers buried at the site, Paul Picard from Quebec and Adriaan Bons from Ontario, expressed their distress over the desecration of their family members’ final resting places during interviews with CBC News.
Lia Bons, sister of Adriaan Bons, lamented the obliteration of the gravestones, remarking that the site now appears devoid of any markers. She expressed relief that her parents did not witness the complete destruction of their son’s burial site.
Marguerite Picard articulated her desire to have her brother reinterred next to their parents, emphasizing the significance of honoring his memory with a proper headstone.
When contacted by CBC News, the IDF referred inquiries about the cemetery to an officer from the 401st Brigade Combat Team, who explained that military operations aimed at destroying a tunnel beneath the cemetery led to the unintentional disturbance of the soldiers’ remains.
The destruction of the Gaza War Cemetery has sparked outrage among family members and observers alike. Efforts to assess the damage have been hindered by limited access to the site, preventing a comprehensive evaluation of the situation.
Canadian officials have expressed deep concern over the reports of damage to the cemetery. Global Affairs Canada emphasized the importance of preserving historical and memorial sites dedicated to those who served, underscoring the need for respectful treatment of these locations. They indicated that discussions have taken place with relevant authorities to address the issue.