Brief

Israel returns 22 stolen Greek artefacts to Athens

The handover, attended by Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Israeli officials, is part of Greece's broader push for repatriation of cultural heritage.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:27:09 GMT

Israel handed over 22 ancient artefacts to Greece at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens on Tuesday, according to both the Independent and Al Jazeera.

What happened

The ceremony saw Culture Minister Lina Mendoni receive the objects from representatives of the Israel Antiquities Authority, including Amir Ganor, head of its theft‑prevention division, and Israel’s ambassador to Greece, Pninat Yanay. The collection, provisionally dated between about 700 B.C. and 320 B.C., includes a small bronze statuette of a woman, fifteen Attic vases, six Corinthian vases, slender oil flasks, two‑handled amphorae and drinking cups decorated with mythological and geometric motifs.

What the reports add

The Independent noted that the return comes as Athens intensifies an international campaign to recover the Parthenon Marbles, linking the event to broader diplomatic cultural‑heritage cooperation. Al Jazeera added that Greek and Israeli officials did not disclose how the artefacts were discovered in Israel or the circumstances of their illegal removal.

What was said

Ms Mendoni told the Independent, “It is the first time that Israel has returned antiquities to Greece, marking the starting point of closer cooperation between the two countries for the protection of cultural heritage.” She repeated the same quotation in Al Jazeera’s report.

How it came about

The artefacts were located by the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit, which then arranged the return. The handover follows Greece’s renewed push for the return of the Parthenon Marbles, a campaign highlighted in Felo’s recent coverage of the issue (Greek PM says Parthenon Marbles return still possible).

Key facts

Israel returned 22 ancient artefacts to Greece on 14 Oct 2026 (independent.co.uk)
The objects were handed to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens (aljazeera.com)
The collection includes a bronze statuette, 15 Attic vases, 6 Corinthian vases and other pottery dated 700‑320 B.C. (independent.co.uk)
The return was facilitated by the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit (aljazeera.com)