Despite the brutal “Israeli” aggression on Gaza, the Middle East Eye (MEE) reported that two British World War cemeteries located in the strip have remained untouched and undisturbed by the occupation.

Also Read: Israeli Occupation Forces target Gaza cemeteries in ground assault

These cemeteries, owned by the UK-based Commonwealth War Graves Commission, are locally known as the British graveyards and are significant cultural and archaeological sites in Gaza.

The Gaza War Cemetery, located in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in northern Gaza, contains 3,217 graves, of which 781 remain unidentified. It includes 210 Second World War burials, 30 post-war burials, and 234 war graves of soldiers from other nationalities.

Another cemetery in Deir al-Balah, within the Al-Zwayda area, holds the graves of 724 British soldiers.

These cemeteries are not just resting places but, according to MEE, are also serene havens adorned with bushes, tall cypress trees, and blooming flowers. For years, hundreds of Gazans have visited these sites to relax and find a moment of peace.

Some of the earliest burials in these cemeteries date back to British soldiers involved in the battles against the Ottoman Empire during 1917 and 1918. During the Second World War, British Empire forces, primarily Australian, managed several hospitals in Gaza.

These cemeteries have largely survived “Israel's” war on Gaza, much like they have weathered previous aggressions on the strip.

In 2006, the Gaza War Cemetery suffered partial damage from an “Israeli” missile, prompting “Israel” to pay £90,000 in compensation. About 350 headstones required repair following “Israel’s” three-week assault on Gaza in 2009.

While most of Gaza has been devastated by “Israel's” latest military operation, the British cemeteries have been relatively spared.

Unlike the numerous Palestinian graveyards destroyed, the British cemeteries have only suffered partial damage from nearby attacks, with neither the graves nor their headstones being directly targeted.

“Israeli” authorities have also restricted access to these cemeteries, preventing dozens of residents and journalists from visiting or photographing the cemetery in Deir al-Balah.

Fadel Keshko, displaced from northern Gaza, attempted to visit the cemetery recently but was stopped by “Israeli” restrictions.

He expressed his frustration, telling MEE, “The restrictions imposed on people preventing them seeing the cemetery leave a big question mark.”

Keshko observed that while nearby airstrikes caused minor damage to the cemetery's fence and walls, the graves remained untouched. “It’s the same story for the other cemetery. Meanwhile, the graves of Gazans have been bulldozed and their corpses have been stolen. This feels very dehumanizing.”

Across Gaza, almost all Palestinian graveyards have been destroyed and desecrated since the war began following October 7.

Cemeteries in Al-Shujayya, Beit Hanoon, and Khan Yunis have been wrecked, along with the graveyard of the Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of the world's oldest churches, which has been reduced to rubble.

“Israel’s” army deliberately bulldozes and desecrates hundreds of graves, stealing hundreds of bodies, as per the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.

“Israel” removes, dismembers, and loots the corpses. Additionally, destroying tombstones that identify the people buried there, leaving Palestinians unable to locate the bodies of their relatives.

Also Read: 'Israeli Forces' bulldozed cemetery near Baptist Hospital

Undertaker Abu Jawad Baraka described the dire situation, explaining that the continuous bombardment forces the use of mass graves to cope with the daily influx of corpses.

“While our graveyards have been badly damaged and stolen from, we receive no compensation. They even have no protection,” he said. “But Israel can’t cause havoc to the British graveyards and will pay so much money in compensation to repair what was barely damaged. They’re sacred to them, and just thinking about it hurts.”