226 archaeological sites damaged in Gaza during Israel aggression: Report

RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry on Wednesday (Feb 5) announced that 226 archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip have been damaged as a result of direct Israeli targeting.

The ministry made this announcement in cooperation with the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation as part of a report titled "Inventory of the Damages and Risks to Cultural Heritage Sites in Gaza", which assessed the damage inflicted on them as a result of the recent Israeli aggression, Palestine News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported.

Co-prepared by 13 Palestinian experts in cooperation with an Oxford University team over a year, the report examines 316 cultural heritage sites in Gaza, encompassing archaeological sites, heritage buildings, museums, religious buildings, historical cemeteries, cultural scenes, natural sites, and landmarks, as stated by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hani Al-Hayek.

Speaking at the ministry's headquarters in Ramallah, the minister pointed out that the report was based on a thorough field survey of all sites, analysis of satellite images, data collection, and the creation of individual site models. This information was then analysed to assess the extent of the damage.

The report finds that out of the 316 sites, 138 sustained major damage, 61 others were moderately damaged, 27 suffered slight damage, and 90 remained undamaged.

It estimates the budget required for the recovery of the cultural heritage sector at EUR261.15 million, to be implemented in three phases over eight years.

Phase 1 involves an urgent intervention to salvage and support endangered sites and requires EUR31.2 million. Phase 2 involves interventions necessary to restore and rehabilitate partially endangered sites and requires EUR96.72 million. Phase 3 focuses on the reconstruction of threatened sites, requiring EUR133.23 million.

Al-Hayek said that historical archaeological sites are an important part of the history and identity of the Palestinian people on Palestinian land, adding that the occupation, by targeting these sites, is deliberately erasing and destroying this important part and a fundamental pillar of Palestinian national identity.

-- BERNAMA