As the Gaza war rages on, Palestinians have commenced efforts to safeguard their cultural heritage, backed by a £1m emergency grant from the Swiss-based Aliph Foundation. Experts working within Gaza are relocating artefacts, recording damage to historical sites, and training cultural workers to aid preservation.
“This is both a national and humanitarian responsibility for us. Gaza’s history and heritage belong not only to us but also to humanity. We think of our heritage constantly,” stated Mohammad Abu Lehia, the founder of the Al Qarara Cultural Museum, which sustained damage during the conflict. Over 2,000 items from the museum’s collection were relocated through recent rescue operations led by the Mayasem Association for Culture and Arts, in collaboration with the Palestinian Museum in the West Bank. These items include archaeological objects such as pottery, tombstones, statues, and traditional Palestinian crafts, reported the Art Newspaper.
Challenging conditions in Gaza have made these preservation efforts extremely difficult. Abu Lehia explains that staff from the Mayasem Association, founded by his wife Najla Abulehia in 2021, faced significant obstacles in finding basic materials like boxes, cardboard, and sponges, which were repurposed for storing the artefacts.
“The evacuated items are carefully packaged in a scientific and appropriate manner to prepare them for removal in case the occupying forces enter the area,” the association explained. Similar preservation efforts are taking place at additional, undisclosed locations within Gaza.
Aliph, which focuses on safeguarding cultural heritage in conflict zones, confirms that emergency documentation and damage assessments are being conducted at three major heritage sites in Gaza City: the seventh-century Al Omari Mosque, destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in December, Al Saqqa House, and the Dar-Farah historic courtyard. This work is being coordinated with the Riwaq Centre for Architectural Conservation in the West Bank, alongside international organisations such as UNESCO.
“The overwhelming response from heritage professionals in Gaza, the West Bank, and internationally shows the importance of acting now to protect cultural heritage,” said Sandra Bialystok, Aliph’s Director of Communications and Partnerships. “This is a significant priority for many people in the region, and we are here to support them in this vital effort,” she continued, stressing that heritage protection does not interfere with humanitarian aid.
Training local individuals has also been a key aspect, according to Gala-Alexa Amagat, a project manager at Aliph. She notes that a recent online training session intended for West Bank participants drew 20 attendees from Gaza. “Some walked for miles just to get an internet connection and join the session,” Amagat explained, saying she was moved by their commitment.
Fadel Al Utol, an archaeologist in Gaza who is assisting with the training provided by the Mayasem Association, reported that despite the obstacles, at least 15 individuals are attending in-person sessions. “This is how life is in Gaza; we overcome the difficulties,” Al Utol said. “I call on all supporters to continue helping young people in safeguarding our cultural heritage so that hope and the love of life remain, along with the preservation of antiquities.”
Bialystok added that protecting cultural heritage is an integral part of peace-building. She noted, “Our motto is ‘protecting heritage to build peace’; it’s a crucial part of the peacebuilding process. We will continue our efforts for as long as needed, including after the conflict ends—hopefully soon—and into the future.”
In March, a World Bank interim damage assessment report stated that Gaza’s “significant heritage sites” had suffered approximately £260m in damage. The report, prepared in conjunction with the United Nations and the European Union, revealed that between 7 October and 26 January, 63% of heritage sites were damaged, with 31% completely destroyed. These figures are believed to have risen since then.
According to local health authorities, the ongoing conflict has led to the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians, with the majority of Gaza’s population displaced. Israeli reports indicate that over 1,200 Israelis were killed in the 7 October 2023 attacks, with 253 people taken hostage.