Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have not only inflicted heavy casualties among civilians and caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, but have also resulted in severe damage to archaeological and cultural heritage sites, some of which date back thousands of years, Reuters reports.
Ancient mosques, churches, markets, and museums -- symbols of Palestine's enduring historical and civilizational legacy -- have suffered extensive damage or have been completely destroyed amid the ongoing conflict.
Observers have said this constitutes a grave threat to some of the most important manifestations of Palestinian identity and heritage still standing in Gaza.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), at least 110 archaeological and cultural sites have been damaged in Gaza since the escalation began in October 2023.
The loss marks a significant blow to Palestinian cultural heritage and is raising alarm across the international community.
"Around 80 percent of Gaza's archaeological sites have been targeted. Mosques, churches, old markets, historic homes. The message is clear: it's an attempt to erase Gaza's historical identity." said Palestinian historian Ayman Al-Belbisi.
Palestinian scholars and rights groups have called for urgent international attention and intervention, underscoring that the destruction of cultural heritage represents not only a violation of international law, but also an assault on the collective memory and identity of the Palestinian people.
"We have documented several cases in which the Israeli army has deliberately targeted cultural and archaeological sites across the Gaza Strip. These [actions] were apparently deliberate to obliterate the Palestinian identity in Gaza and the Palestinian history, and as a tool of genocide that has been practiced against the Palestinians for over 21 months now," said Maha Al-Husseini, strategy director for Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.
Cultural experts stress that heritage is irreplaceable. Unlike infrastructure, it cannot simply be rebuilt. The international community has been urged to take swift and concrete steps to ensure the protection of what remains of Gaza's historical landmarks.
While the damage is vast and irreversible, voices in Gaza emphasize that what has been destroyed will not be forgotten.
