The destruction of Gaza’s cultural heritage has become a deeply troubling and tragic aspect of the ongoing conflict in the region. Since Israeli military operations began on October 7, 2023, nearly 200 sites of historical and cultural significance have been either damaged or destroyed. This loss of heritage mirrors the devastation seen in other conflicts, such as the Islamic State’s destruction of ancient temples in Palmyra in 2015, which triggered worldwide condemnation. However, the international community’s response to the erasure of Gaza’s cultural history has not been as unified or as vocal, even though accusations of “cultural genocide” have been raised against Israel, alleging a deliberate attempt to sever the Palestinian people’s connection to their land.
Gaza, one of the world’s longest continuously inhabited regions, dates back to the 15th century BC. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean, a key trade crossroads between Africa and Asia, has made it a covered area for various empires, from the Egyptians and Assyrians to the Romans. Gaza's heritage is a reflection of its deep historical connections with these civilizations, including the Canaanites, Persians, and Greeks. Many significant cultural and religious sites have stood in Gaza for centuries, symbolizing the region's pivotal role in the broader historical and cultural landscape of the Levant.
In recent military campaigns, these cultural landmarks have suffered immense damage. Among the losses is the Great Omari Mosque, one of Gaza’s oldest religious structures. Built over a pagan temple in the 7th century and serving as a mosque for over a millennium, it was struck by Israeli air raids in December 2023, reducing its Mamluk-era minaret to rubble. The mosque was more than just a religious site; it housed a significant library with rare manuscripts, many of which are now lost forever. The Sayed al-Hashim Mosque believed to be the burial place of Prophet Muhammad’s great-grandfather, was also damaged, alongside the Saint Porphyrius Church, one of the oldest Christian churches in the Middle East, which sustained damage during bombings on October 19, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 17 people sheltering inside.
The cultural devastation extends beyond religious sites. Museums in Gaza, too, have been reduced to ruins. The Al-Qarara Museum, home to 3,000 artefacts from the Canaanite era, was obliterated, leaving behind fragments of ancient pottery and glass. In addition, Saint Hilarion Monastery, a 4th-century Christian monastic complex that had been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, sustained severe damage. This ancient site, which included several churches and ancient baths, once welcomed pilgrims travelling the Via Maris trade route. Excavated by Palestinian archaeologists in the 1990s, it had served as a symbol of Gaza’s Christian heritage. The destruction of such historical sites, along with their irreplaceable cultural artefacts, marks a significant blow not only to Palestinian history but to the broader understanding of the region’s ancient civilizations.
Efforts to document and preserve what remains of Gaza’s heritage have been made by academics and archaeologists. French archaeologist René Elter has led initiatives to protect the Byzantine site of Saint Hilarion, while a group of scholars recently launched an online inventory that catalogues the damage to Gaza’s cultural landmarks. This initiative, which provides a detailed account of destroyed monuments, aims to map the scope of the devastation and highlight the immense cultural loss to the region.
Beyond tangible heritage, Gaza’s cultural assets such as local customs, religious practices, and artistic traditions are also at risk. These include the destruction of community institutions like the Union of Palestinian Artists. The deliberate targeting of these institutions has drawn further accusations of cultural genocide, as they represent an attack on the very identity of the Palestinian people.
The International Court of Justice has heard accusations of war crimes against Israel for the destruction of cultural landmarks in Gaza, citing the deliberate targeting of cultural and historical sites as part of the broader conflict. These accusations have drawn attention to violations of the 1954 Hague Convention, which both Israel and Palestine are signatories to, and which is intended to protect cultural heritage during armed conflict. The deliberate destruction of such sites, according to experts, goes beyond collateral damage and constitutes an attempt to erase the historical and cultural identity of a people. While international bodies such as UNESCO have called for the protection of cultural heritage, the ongoing conflict continues to jeopardize what remains of Gaza’s history. UNESCO has stressed that cultural property should not be targeted or used for military purposes, as it is considered civilian infrastructure. However, the extent of the damage raises serious questions about how to preserve and protect cultural heritage in conflict zones.
In summary, the destruction of Gaza’s cultural and historical heritage is a devastating aspect of the current conflict, symbolizing more than just the loss of physical buildings. It represents the erasure of millennia of history that connects Gaza to ancient civilizations and underscores its role as a vital crossroads in the Mediterranean world. As efforts to document and preserve what remains continue, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. For the people of Gaza and the broader historical community, these losses represent a profound rupture in the cultural and historical continuity of one of the world’s most historically rich regions.
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