The Australian government has vowed to repair the graves of dozens of Australian soldiers in Gaza after satellite imagery and witness testimony revealed they had been bulldozed by the Israel Defense Forces. Authorities may face months or years of delay accessing the Commonwealth war cemetery in Gaza, and Australian graves remain at risk of further damage as conflict continues.
Damage to Gaza War Cemetery
More than 250 Australian soldiers are buried at the Gaza War Cemetery, administered by the Commonwealth, many of whom were light horsemen who served in World War I. While the majority of graves in the cemetery are British, the most significant damage has occurred to the section housing Australian soldiers who died during World War II.
The Tuffah area of Gaza City, where the cemetery is located, has been shelled throughout the current conflict. However, more extensive damage caused by military earthmoving has occurred within the last year to the southern corner of the cemetery.
Satellite photographs show rows of gravestones removed and significant soil disturbance across sections A and B of the cemetery, which hold the graves of second world war soldiers, the vast majority Australian. A substantial earth berm can be seen running through the middle of the disturbed area.
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs stated there had been “significant damage” to the Gaza War Cemetery “and this includes the graves of Australians.”
“The Office of Australian War Graves is very concerned by the damage to the cemetery and Australian war graves. We remain committed to ensuring the restoration of all affected graves as soon as feasible,” the spokesperson said.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission plans to secure and repair the cemetery when it is safe to do so, but full reconstruction is expected to take considerable time, as immediate post-conflict efforts will prioritize humanitarian needs.
Peter Tinley, national president of the Returned & Services League of Australia, said the organization would continue to monitor the situation and work with relevant authorities to ensure Australian graves in Gaza are restored and properly maintained once access is possible.
“Commonwealth War Graves represent a solemn covenant between the nation and those who served,” Tinley said. “For the families of those who rest in Gaza, and for all Australians who value our commemorative traditions, news of damage to these graves is distressing. While we understand the immense complexities of the current situation, our focus remains on ensuring these Australians are eventually commemorated with the respect they deserve. We welcome the Office of Australian War Graves’ commitment to repair these graves when circumstances allow.”
Essam Jarada, Gaza cemetery’s former caretaker, reported two bulldozing operations took place in April and May 2025. The first occurred outside the cemetery walls, extending approximately 12 metres around all sides, and involved the removal of olive trees. A subsequent operation inside the cemetery walls bulldozed an area of approximately 1,000 square metres in the corner containing Australian soldiers’ graves, creating sand mounds used as earth barriers.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it had been forced to take defensive measures during military operations. “At the relevant time, the area in question was an active combat zone,” an army spokesperson said. “During IDF operations in the area, terrorists attempted to attack IDF troops and took cover in structures close to the cemetery. In response to ensure the safety of IDF troops operating on the ground, operational measures were taken in the area to neutralize identified threats.”
The IDF also stated that underground terrorist infrastructure had been identified and dismantled within the cemetery and surrounding area, and that activity in sensitive areas is approved by senior ranks and handled with appropriate sensitivity.
Military historian Prof Peter Stanley, of the University of NSW Canberra, said “Australians had not forgotten” their soldiers’ service in the Middle East. “The Gaza cemetery is as valued and as cared for as any cemetery in the world: an enormous amount of sentiment and emotion has been invested in maintaining these cemeteries as sacred places.”
Stanley added that while providing aid to those suffering in Gaza is the immediate priority, the desecration of Australian soldiers’ graves is a serious concern. “At the same time as the Israelis are, understandably, demanding the return of the remains of hostages, the IDF is bulldozing the remains of Commonwealth soldiers; there’s an irony there.”
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission stated it was “deeply concerned” about the “extensive damage” sustained by the Gaza cemetery, including damage to headstones, memorials, boundary walls, staff facilities, and storage areas. The ongoing conflict risks further destruction of graves, and access to the cemetery remains unlikely in the near future.
Additional reporting by Eelemarni Close-Brown and Ima Caldwell
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