Sourced fact
The News
Cultural sites in the Gaza Strip face a serious threat from ongoing Israeli attacks, with 164 cultural sites damaged since the start of Israeli military operations in October 2023 and March 2026, according to UNESCO. The affected historical sites include the Al-Omar Mosque, the Samra Hammam, and the Pasha's Palace in the old city of Gaza, as well as the Dar Al-Qurra Cultural Museum near Khan Younis. The "Heritage Guardians" team, affiliated with the Miasim Association for Culture and Arts, is making significant efforts to rescue artifacts and antiquities from the ruins of damaged sites.
Shaima Mohammad Al-Natour, the assistant coordinator of the program, told Al Jazeera that her team has succeeded in rescuing more than 1,700 artifacts from collections of four museums since the start of their work. However, the team faces significant challenges, including a lack of specialized equipment and Israeli military restrictions. Additionally, areas near the red line, where Israel has full military control, pose a significant danger to the rescue team.
The Heritage Guardians team conducts comprehensive field surveys in southern and central areas of the Gaza Strip to document the damage to both private and public archaeological sites. The process begins with reporting through forms containing details about the reported artifact, its location, and its condition. The team then moves to the site to rescue the artifacts, where they start by cleaning, documenting, and photographing them.
The team uses a strict protocol to ensure the preservation of the historical value and potential of each rescued artifact. The process begins with registering the site and taking multiple-angle photographs of each artifact, linking the photos to a unique code to prevent confusion. However, the team faces significant challenges in providing the specialized equipment needed to protect the artifacts from environmental damage and harsh climatic conditions.
Al-Natour stated, "Our greatest need is to transition from emergency rescue to professional long-term preservation." The team also needs specialized training in preventive conservation, emergency collection management, dealing with damaged artifacts, damage assessment, and database management.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, saving cultural heritage in Gaza is a crucial task for understanding the region's history and culture. Cultural heritage represents a link between the past and the present, and maintains the national Palestinian identity. In a broader context, areas suffering from conflicts face significant challenges in preserving their cultural heritage. Challenges include destruction caused by fighting, resource shortages, and security constraints. Notably, the local efforts to save cultural heritage in Gaza are pioneering, reflecting the strong will of Palestinians to preserve their history and culture.
