Graves Unearthed: Misbar Tracks the Timeline of Bulldozing at Gaza’s “British Cemetery”

On Feb. 6, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office condemned the targeting of the World War cemetery in Gaza, calling the incident “unacceptable” and saying it had raised the matter with Israel.

The statement followed an investigation by The Guardian, which reported that graves of British soldiers had been bulldozed inside the cemetery. The site contains the remains of soldiers from both World War I and World War II.

According to the investigation, the bulldozing affected the section containing the graves of more than 100 Australian soldiers, as well as British and Polish servicemen who fought with Allied forces in Palestine.

In response to the British statement, Misbar at Al-Araby TV examined the claims within a verified timeline, drawing on field evidence, satellite imagery and chronological analysis.

What Do the Satellite Images Show?

Satellite imagery indicates the cemetery remained intact throughout much of the war. Signs of damage first appeared in late March 2025. Images captured via Sentinel Hub show a deep crater around the cemetery, likely caused by an aerial strike.

Additional satellite images taken over several months in 2025 show the soil fully leveled and rows of headstones removed from their original positions, consistent with the Guardian’s findings.

An Israeli military spokesperson acknowledged responsibility, saying “operational measures were taken in the area to neutralize identified threats,” and describing the site at the time as an “active combat zone.”

Where Is the Cemetery Located?

Known locally as the “British Cemetery,” the site lies in the Tuffah neighborhood east of Salah al-Din Street in central Gaza. The area had been under Israeli control since 2024.

The cemetery contains the remains of 3,217 Commonwealth soldiers killed in World War I, 210 from World War II, and 234 graves of other nationalities. Established in the early 20th century, before the occupation of Palestine, the site is marked by trees, stonework and a prominent memorial monument.

Under the October 2025 Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, Israeli forces redeployed eastward toward Salah al-Din Street, known as the “Yellow Line.” Maps published by the Institute for National Security Studies show the cemetery falls within this line, meaning it remained under Israeli control during the period in which it was targeted.

Timeline of the Targeting

At the start of the ground invasion in January 2024, Israeli soldiers posted photographs from inside the cemetery alongside headstones of Jewish soldiers killed in World War I. The cemetery also contains Muslim and Christian graves.

The images show the site largely intact at the time, with damage limited to the outer wall. Satellite imagery obtained by Misbar confirms the cemetery sustained no internal damage until late March 2025, when at least one crater appeared east of the site.

The timing coincided with renewed Israeli attacks following the collapse of a ceasefire that had taken effect before President Donald Trump began his second term.

On March 18, 2025, Israeli forces killed at least 400 Palestinians. A review of the timeline alongside satellite imagery suggests the cemetery’s first strike likely occurred during these attacks.

By July 2025, satellite images show large-scale earthmoving operations inside the cemetery, with visible sand mounds and significant alteration of the terrain.

Photographs published by The Guardian show rows of headstones removed and soil leveled in one corner of the cemetery, along with a large earthen berm running through the damaged area, indicating the use of heavy machinery.

These operations coincided with the demolition of entire residential blocks around the cemetery using explosive-laden robots — a tactic also observed elsewhere along the Yellow Line.

On Aug. 7, 2025, the Israeli military released video footage showing the demolition of a tunnel near the cemetery. The video, however, does not show the internal damage documented by satellite imagery in July — roughly 10 days before the clip was published — raising questions about when the footage was recorded.

A Repeated Pattern

The bulldozing mirrors actions at other cemeteries. On Jan. 26, 2026, Israeli forces conducted an operation at al-Batsh cemetery in Tuffah in search of the body of a missing Israeli captive.

According to the Gaza government media office, more than 200 graves were exhumed and significant infrastructure damage was reported. Videos filmed after the withdrawal show destroyed headstones and widespread leveling using heavy equipment — a pattern consistent with what occurred at the British Cemetery.

The site had previously sustained partial damage during Israel’s 2009 military operation known as “Cast Lead,” when more than 300 headstones were destroyed in direct strikes. The United Kingdom condemned the attack at the time, and UNESCO later oversaw restoration work at the cemetery.

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