Wilma Spence's father, Albert Kemp, an Anzac soldier buried in the Gaza War Cemetery, is among hundreds of Commonwealth war dead whose graves were bulldozed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Satellite imagery shows extensive damage to the cemetery's southern corner, where Australian soldiers from World War II are interred.
The IDF claimed the destruction was necessary to counter 'underground terrorist infrastructure' in the area, a justification met with scepticism by families of the fallen. Wilma, who visited her father's grave in 1995, now fears his remains are lost. 'They have no respect for the living, so why would they respect the dead?' she said of the Israeli government.
Australia has vowed to repair the war graves, with the government pledging to investigate the damage and seek access for the Office of Australian War Graves to assess the site. The pledge comes ahead of a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, amid calls from families for stronger action.
Wilma has been urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intervene since October 2023, but says her requests have been passed to other departments. She now demands that Israel allow Australian officials into Gaza to evaluate the destruction and consider repatriating remains if necessary.
