Gaza War Cemetery: Australian Soldier’s Grave Destroyed in IDF Buldozing

The graves of Commonwealth soldiers, including those of Australian and New Zealand servicemen who died in the Second World War, have almost certainly been destroyed by Israeli military action in the Gaza War Cemetery, prompting outrage and calls for investigation. The destruction, revealed through satellite imagery, has left families of the fallen grappling with renewed grief and demanding answers from both Israel and the Australian government.

Wilma Spence, whose father, Albert Kemp, an Australian Anzac, is buried in the cemetery, learned of the likely destruction this week. “Fighting for those who love him, our darling daddy died,” reads the inscription on his now-ruined tombstone, a phrase that threatens to overwhelm her, she says. Kemp enlisted in 1939, serving in multiple theatres before his death in Palestine in 1942.

The Gaza War Cemetery, established to commemorate the soldiers of the British Empire who fought in the region during both World Wars, has become the latest casualty of the ongoing conflict. Satellite photographs show significant disturbance across sections A and B of the cemetery, areas holding the graves of predominantly Australian Second World War soldiers. An earth berm now runs through the middle of the disturbed area, and rows of gravestones appear to have been removed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has claimed the damage was a consequence of efforts to neutralize “underground terrorist infrastructure” in the area, stating that terrorists had taken cover in structures close to the cemetery and attempted to attack IDF troops. This explanation has been met with deep skepticism from families of the deceased.

Spence, who visited her father’s grave in 1995, recounted a difficult journey involving interrogation by Mossad and navigating armed checkpoints. She described the emotional weight of finally finding his resting place, marked as Grave 3, Row A, of Section B. “I just broke down, started crying,” she said. “It was very emotional. I suppose, in some way, I’d like to go back, and take somebody else with me.” Now, that possibility seems remote.

The Australian government has expressed concern over the damage. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles stated on Friday that the government was “obviously very concerned” about the destruction, adding that they had “clearly expressed our concern.” He indicated that repairs would be undertaken “as soon as the situation is one where we can safely repair those graves.”

However, Spence feels the government’s response has been inadequate. She has been writing to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese since October 2023, urging him to protect the sites and investigate the damage. She alleges she has been repeatedly referred to the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Office of Australian War Graves, feeling her concerns are being dismissed. In a letter to the Prime Minister’s office, she accused the government of “an abrogation of the responsibility of our national spokesperson” and questioned their response to the situation in Gaza.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs confirmed that “significant damage” had been inflicted on the cemetery, including the graves of Australians. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission plans to secure and repair the cemetery when We see safe to do so, but acknowledges that full reconstruction will be a lengthy process, prioritizing humanitarian efforts in the immediate aftermath of the conflict.

Spence is now calling on the Albanese government to raise the issue directly with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is scheduled to visit Australia. She wants pressure applied to Israel to allow access for staff from the Office of Australian War Graves to assess the extent of the damage. “I think they’re passing the buck, continually referring it to the Australian war graves commission,” she said.

The incident raises broader questions about the protection of cultural heritage and war graves during armed conflict. International law mandates the protection of such sites, although the interpretation and enforcement of these laws are often contested in active war zones. The destruction of the Gaza War Cemetery underscores the vulnerability of historical and memorial sites in the midst of hostilities.

Spence penned a poem about her father, its final lines reflecting the profound connection she felt to his grave and the pain of its loss: “I stood at your grave in the Gaza sun, the smell of Eucalypts filling the air. My tears fell in the dust, it seemed unjust to lose you, so young – unfair.” “And I wished you home to comfort and love, and those who cared.”