Tom Spender

Several Palestinians in northern Gaza told CNN they witnessed the Israeli military demolishing mosques, homes and buildings or clearing rubble near the shifting yellow line – blocking Palestinians from accessing land where their loved ones could be buried under the rubble. Human rights actors, including @EuroMedHR and @volker_turk, warn the clearance of rubble in areas under Israeli military control could erase evidence of war crimes. Under international humanitarian law, the parties to an armed conflict “have an obligation to conduct search and recovery work” for the remains of those killed, missing or injured, and to collect, preserve and transfer that information to the other side, Pat Griffiths, of the @ICRC, told CNN. Twelve months after the US-led ceasefire deal was signed, Palestinians say they are trying to survive a forever war - one legacy of which is everywhere, yet unseen - in the 8,000 people reported missing, most of whom are likely buried beneath what the United Nations estimates to be 61 million tonnes of rubble. And with each day that passes, the chances of identifying the dead grow slimmer as “crucial evidence” is lost, said Griffiths. “Where are the bones of our loved ones?” asked one resident, Yahya Odeh. “Where are their bodies? There are entire families beyond the yellow line who have been separated from their relatives.” Here's our full report. Read testimonies from Palestinians and see our satellite imagery analysis showing how Israeli forces have shifted the yellow line to push deeper into Gaza. With Tareq El-Hilou, Mohammad Al-Sawalhi, @AbeerSalmanCNN, @StockwellBilly, @faridaelsebai and @ThomasBordeaux7 ✍️🏽 cnn.com/2026/10/12/middleeas…