The destruction of Palestine’s historical and cultural heritage, particularly in Gaza, is a devastating consequence of the ongoing Israeli occupation, which has resulted in significant human and cultural losses.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to catastrophic humanitarian and cultural consequences, highlighted by British photographer James Morris’s 2016 book *Time and Remains of Palestine*. The systematic destruction of Palestinian architectural heritage serves as a tactic to erase the region’s rich historical identity, which has been inhabited by various civilizations throughout history. A report by Forensic Architecture documents the ancient seaport of Anthedon, while recent escalations of violence have resulted in unprecedented civilian casualties and the devastation of cultural sites, including mosques and churches. As international organizations like UNESCO and the UN highlight the urgent need to protect cultural heritage, the actions of the Israeli military raise profound questions about accountability under international law.
Israel’s Destruction of Palestine’s Historical and Cultural Heritage
In 2016, British photographer James Morris published *Time and Remains of Palestine*, a book showcasing images that starkly illustrate the ongoing destruction of architectural landmarks in Palestine.
Situated at the crossroads of Asia and Africa, Palestine has always held significant strategic value, having been ruled by various civilizations throughout its history. The assertion that this region is devoid of historical significance is a tactic employed by Israel to erase the remnants of past cultures and deny the area’s complex history.
This complexity is thoroughly documented in the Forensic Architecture report concerning the archaeological site of the Port of Anthedon, Gaza’s ancient seaport, which dates back to between 1100 BC and 800 BC—dates that Israel disputes.
October 2023: Prioritizing Human Lives Over Cultural Losses
On October 7, 2023, just one day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Israelis celebrated the holiday of Simhat Torah. On this day, a surprise attack by over 1,200 Hamas members breached the wall Israel had constructed in the Gaza Strip. This attack resulted in the hostage-taking of over 200 individuals, as well as the deaths of 1,200 and injuries to 3,500 Israelis.
In response, Israel escalated its long-standing occupation, leading to what can only be described as a massacre—one that constitutes a genocide rarely witnessed in human history. The year-long occupation has devolved into a humanitarian catastrophe for 2.3 million Palestinians, with staggering numbers emerging daily; nearly 42,000 Palestinian civilians have lost their lives, over 14,000 of whom are children, approximately 100,000 have been injured, and more than two million have been displaced.
A month into the conflict, UNESCO declared during its 42nd General Conference that the true extent of the destruction and erasure of cultural heritage in Gaza was yet to be assessed, as efforts were focused on saving human lives.
Monitoring the Disaster
The vast humanitarian disaster in Gaza often overshadows the extensive destruction of vital aspects of Palestinian history and identity. The UN Mine Action Service estimated in April 2024 that every square meter of conflict-affected Gaza contains approximately 200 kilograms of rubble.
Cultural properties have been systematically targeted by Israeli forces since the conflict’s onset. In November, just one month after hostilities escalated, the devastation in northern Gaza cities surpassed that of the bombing of Dresden, Germany, by US and British forces in 1945.
It’s critical to remember that the Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal territory of about 365 square kilometers, is rich in archaeological and historical sites, recognized by the international community as occupied territory since 1967. Over the past century, studies have identified at least 130 sites in Gaza that Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated to protect under international law, alongside the cultural and natural heritage of the area. These responsibilities are outlined in several agreements:
– Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
– Geneva Conventions (1949)
– Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954)
As of September 17, 2024, UNESCO confirmed damage to 69 protected areas, including 10 religious sites, 43 historical and artistic buildings, two movable cultural asset repositories, six monuments, one museum, and seven archaeological sites. Reports indicate even more sites and artifacts have suffered damage from bombardments.
Researchers support their findings with both satellite imagery and witness accounts. One particularly striking example is the Great Mosque of Gaza (the Great Mosque of Omari), often regarded as the region’s oldest mosque and a symbol of resilience. Additionally, the Church of St. Porphyry, the oldest Christian church in Gaza built by Crusaders in 1150, was also struck by Israeli airstrikes.
Accountability for Israel
Despite not being a member of UNESCO, Israel is still obligated to protect cultural properties under the 1954 Hague Convention. Article 4 of the Convention states:
“The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect the cultural property situated on their territory and on the territory of the other High Contracting Parties; they will refrain from using such property and their immediate surroundings or the devices used for their protection for purposes likely to be exposed to destruction or damage in the event of armed conflict and from any hostile act directed at such property.”
As the Hague Convention turns 70 in 2024, cultural heritage sites remain inadequately protected from armed conflicts globally.
Human and Cultural Genocide
The assault on Gaza’s cultural heritage is deeply intertwined with the ongoing humanitarian crisis. This connection has been recognized by the International Criminal Court, which stated:
“Crimes committed against or affecting cultural heritage often touch upon the very notion of what it means to be human and sometimes erode entire parts of human history, creativity, and artistic creation.”
Numerous independent reports and articles have begun to highlight the extent of the destruction in Gaza, referencing not only genocide but also cultural genocide, urban massacre, ecological genocide, and educational massacre.
On December 29, 2023, South Africa lodged a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel has violated its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention regarding Palestinians in Gaza. Evidence presented supports South Africa’s claims, indicating Israel’s attacks on infrastructure aimed at causing physical destruction to the Palestinian people, resulting in the obliteration of approximately 318 Muslim and Christian places of worship, along with numerous archives, libraries, museums, universities, and archaeological sites.
This destruction occurs alongside the obliteration of the people who fostered Palestine’s heritage.
Gaza: A Major Military Target
In her report released on July 1, 2024, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, emphasizes that Israel has transformed Gaza into a “military target” in its entirety.
Satellite imagery from November 6, 2023, reveals craters (red) and excavated archaeological sites (yellow). Forensic Architecture, 2023; Satellite image: Planet Labs PBC, 2023.
The Israeli military rationalizes its indiscriminate destruction of mosques, schools, UN facilities, universities, and hospitals by arbitrarily linking these structures to Hamas. By labeling these buildings as legitimate targets, it obscures the distinction between civilian and military objectives.
While assaults on Palestinian cultural heritage are not a novel phenomenon, the current scale of destruction in Gaza’s urban centers is unprecedented.
According to Albanese, Israel attempts to obscure its intentions by employing the language of international humanitarian law to justify the systematic application of lethal violence against all Palestinian civilians while pursuing policies aimed at the widespread obliteration of Palestinian cultural heritage and identity.
Her report concludes that the Israeli regime’s actions are driven by a genocidal rationale, integral to its colonization project, with the ultimate aim of displacing the Palestinian people from their land and erasing every trace of their culture and history.
