Synopsis
Israeli strikes have inflicted damage on 226 archaeological sites in Gaza, with repair costs approximated at 261 million euros, based on a report from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, highlighting the impact on cultural heritage.Key Takeaways
- 226 archaeological sites damaged in Gaza
- Repair costs estimated at 261 million euros
- 138 sites faced severe damage
- Accusations of targeting Palestinian heritage
- Three-phase recovery plan proposed
Ramallah, Feb 6 (NationPress) Israeli attacks have resulted in damage to 226 archaeological sites in Gaza during the ongoing conflict, with estimated repair costs reaching 261 million euros, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The damage assessment indicated that 138 sites experienced severe damage, 61 sites faced moderate damage, while 27 sites had minor damage. Notably, 90 sites remained unscathed, as detailed in the Ministry’s report regarding cultural heritage.
The Ministry has accused Israeli forces of intentionally targeting these historical sites, which are deemed essential to Palestinian national identity, according to a report by Xinhua news agency.
This announcement was made in collaboration with the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation, forming part of a report titled “Inventory of the Damages and Risks to Cultural Heritage Sites in Gaza”, which evaluated the destruction caused by the recent Israeli military actions.
Co-authored by 13 Palestinian experts in partnership with a team from Oxford University over the course of a year, the report investigates 316 cultural heritage sites in Gaza. This includes archaeological sites, heritage buildings, museums, religious structures, historical cemeteries, cultural landscapes, natural sites, and landmarks, as stated by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek.
During a press conference at the Ministry's headquarters in Ramallah, the Minister emphasized that the report was derived from a comprehensive field survey of all sites, along with the analysis of satellite imagery, data collection, and the development of individual site models. This information was subsequently analyzed to determine the extent of the damage.
The budget required for the recovery of the cultural heritage sector is estimated at 261.15 million euros, to be executed in three phases over eight years.
Phase 1 entails immediate action to rescue and support endangered sites, needing 31.2 million euros. Phase 2 consists of necessary interventions to restore and rehabilitate partially endangered sites, requiring 96.72 million euros. Lastly, Phase 3 addresses the reconstruction of at-risk sites, with a funding requirement of 133.23 million euros.
Minister Al-Hayek remarked that the historical archaeological sites are a crucial aspect of the history and identity of the Palestinian people on their land. He added that the occupation, by targeting these sites, is deliberately attempting to erase and destroy an essential part of the Palestinian national identity.
Israel commenced a large-scale military operation against the Palestinian enclave on October 7, 2023, following an unexpected attack by Hamas on southern Israeli towns, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities.
The Israeli bombardments in Gaza have led to the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians and caused widespread destruction throughout the territory.
The UN estimates that the damaged structures encompass more than 90 percent of the housing units in Gaza, with 160,000 homes destroyed and an additional 276,000 severely or partially damaged.
