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In short:
Satellite imagery shows heavy damage to the Gaza War Cemetery at Deir El Belah, which is mainly dedicated to fallen Allied personnel, including more than 250 Australians.
The body that normally oversees the cemetery is no longer able to provide updates on its condition, having evacuated its staff from Gaza.
What's next?
Greens senator David Shoebridge is demanding the Albanese government raise the issue directly with the Israeli government.
Dozens of graves belonging to Australian soldiers located inside an historic Gaza cemetery are feared to be damaged or destroyed following Israeli military operations over recent months.
Earlier this year, international media reports suggested at least 16 cemeteries had been desecrated during the Israel Defense Force's (IDF's) ground offensive against Hamas, launched in response to the deadly October 7 terrorist attacks.
Recent satellite imagery has revealed the extent of damage to one of the sites, the Gaza War Cemetery at Deir El Belah, which is mainly dedicated to fallen Allied personnel and is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
The Gaza War Cemetery contains over 3,600 Commonwealth burials, mainly from World War I. Around 260 of the graves are dedicated to Australian soldiers, primarily light horsemen killed in 1917.
Now a series of images produced by Canadian geospatial firm SkyWatch appears to show the Gaza War Cemetery and its surrounds have been heavily damaged.
Greens senator David Shoebridge, a vocal critic of Israel's military action who obtained the commercial images, says they reveal a level of destruction and desecration that is "dreadfully disturbing".
"These images for the first time show the scale of destruction of Commonwealth war graves in Gaza, and we know that within that cemetery there are some 260 Australian war graves," Senator Shoebridge said.
The revelation of the extent of damage to Commonwealth war graves comes just weeks after pro-Palestinian activists vandalised numerous memorials along Canberra's Anzac Parade in protest of the conflict in Gaza.
The Greens refused to condemn that vandalism in the Senate earlier this month, with Senator Jordon Steele-John saying "painting is a form of free speech".
Australia yet to raise concerns with Israeli military
In May, the CWGC issued a statement saying its staff had been safely evacuated from Gaza, noting its cemeteries had "suffered damage, but the extent is currently unknown" and vowing to restore the sites "when circumstances allow".
During a parliamentary hearing earlier this month, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) confirmed it had not made any inquiries to the Israeli government about the graves' possible destruction.
Under questioning from Senator Shoebridge, DVA deputy secretary Alison McLaren said the department was instead receiving its information from the CWGC, but had not had any additional updates since March.
"The Commonwealth War Graves Commission look after all war graves in Gaza, including the Australian war graves," she said.
"As such, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will make an assessment when they're able to get into the site."
Senator Shoebridge is now demanding the Albanese government raise concerns directly with Israel about the possible damage to Australian graves.
"I find it extraordinary they haven't made the most basic inquiries about whether or not Australian war graves have been destroyed," he said.
"Because what you can see from these satellite images is that the scale of the destruction is widespread, and it's been evident for months and months."
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates at least 38,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched retaliatory military operations against Hamas for its October 7 attack which killed 1,200 people.
The Greens have accused the federal government of not doing enough to condemn the casualties.