NGOs Scramble to Save Gaza's War-Torn Heritage Sites from Destruction
In the aftermath of Israel and Hamas's latest conflict, numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Gaza are racing against time to preserve the enclave's cultural heritage sites that have been severely damaged or destroyed.
According to UNESCO, at least 114 heritage sites have been ravaged by the two-year-long war, leaving countless historical buildings, monuments, and cultural institutions in shambles. Among those affected are several prominent sites in Gaza City, including the historic Pasha's Palace, the Rashad Shawa Cultural Centre, and the Great Omari Mosque.
Critics of the destruction have voiced their discontent, with Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) launching its Intiqal initiative in 2017 to safeguard Gaza's cultural heritage. The French NGO has made headlines for its efforts in rescuing valuable artifacts during a recent attack on a storage facility housing a collection of Palestinian relics.
"We were able to rescue 80% of the artefacts stored there due to forewarning about the impending attack," Jehad Abu Hassan, programme coordinator of Intiqal, told our team. "It was an extremely challenging situation given that the bombings were taking place all around us, and moving such valuable items requires extensive preparation."
The impact of Israeli destruction on Gaza's cultural landscape cannot be overstated, according to Krista Pikkat, director of UNESCO's Culture and Emergencies Entity. The UNESCO official lamented that "each monument loss is a loss for humankind," highlighting the significance of these sites not only to local communities but also to human civilization as a whole.
These NGOs' tireless efforts underscore the urgent need to protect Gaza's cultural heritage, which has been eroded by years of conflict and violence. The consequences of inaction could be irreversible, leaving future generations without access to these irreplaceable historical treasures.
In the aftermath of Israel and Hamas's latest conflict, numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Gaza are racing against time to preserve the enclave's cultural heritage sites that have been severely damaged or destroyed.
According to UNESCO, at least 114 heritage sites have been ravaged by the two-year-long war, leaving countless historical buildings, monuments, and cultural institutions in shambles. Among those affected are several prominent sites in Gaza City, including the historic Pasha's Palace, the Rashad Shawa Cultural Centre, and the Great Omari Mosque.
Critics of the destruction have voiced their discontent, with Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) launching its Intiqal initiative in 2017 to safeguard Gaza's cultural heritage. The French NGO has made headlines for its efforts in rescuing valuable artifacts during a recent attack on a storage facility housing a collection of Palestinian relics.
"We were able to rescue 80% of the artefacts stored there due to forewarning about the impending attack," Jehad Abu Hassan, programme coordinator of Intiqal, told our team. "It was an extremely challenging situation given that the bombings were taking place all around us, and moving such valuable items requires extensive preparation."
The impact of Israeli destruction on Gaza's cultural landscape cannot be overstated, according to Krista Pikkat, director of UNESCO's Culture and Emergencies Entity. The UNESCO official lamented that "each monument loss is a loss for humankind," highlighting the significance of these sites not only to local communities but also to human civilization as a whole.
These NGOs' tireless efforts underscore the urgent need to protect Gaza's cultural heritage, which has been eroded by years of conflict and violence. The consequences of inaction could be irreversible, leaving future generations without access to these irreplaceable historical treasures.
. Those UNESCO-listed sites are like windows into the past, you know? The thought of them being reduced to rubble is heartbreaking 
. I mean, we're already living in a world where climate change and conflict are taking their toll – can't we just try to preserve what's left of our cultural heritage instead of constantly fighting over it? 
I feel like these NGOs are doing the bare minimum, though – it's 80% of artefacts they managed to rescue in that storage facility, but what about all those other sites? 
And what's going to happen when the funding dries up? 
It's just so... frustrating.
the thought of all those historical buildings and monuments just being destroyed it's like losing a piece of history, you know? i mean what's gonna happen to the people who care about that stuff? they're the ones who should be getting help not the gov't 
80% artefacts rescued is not enough I'd say we should be saving everything 
UNESCO needs to do more than just lament about it, they need to take concrete actions to preserve these historical sites 
OMG this is so heartbreaking!!! I mean I know we gotta stand up for our rights as a people but come on the history and culture of Gaza can't just be destroyed like that!! 
let's keep supporting them and raising awareness about this issue, every little bit counts! 
I'm literally shook by this news! How can any war NOT destroy a culture?! We're talking about entire cities being reduced to rubble because of human conflict... it's just heartbreaking 
and i think the world should be payin more attention to this kinda stuff 'cause it's not just about Gaza, it's about our shared human heritage 
It's not like it was just some random buildings or something, these were cultural institutions with actual significance. And UNESCO is all like "oh no, humans losing their heritage" 
. I mean, I guess that's kind of true... but shouldn't we be working on preventing these kinds of situations in the first place? 
. It's heartbreaking thinking about all those historical buildings and monuments that could be gone for good soon. We should really think about the impact on future generations 
the fact that UNESCO is talking about 'loss for humankind' is really putting it into perspective... these sites aren't just important to Gazans, they're global cultural assets 
. And it's not just these big landmarks, it's all the little things too - the old streets, the family homes, the tiny museums... everything's been affected by this conflict.