Brief
Palestinian archaeologists race to rescue Gaza heritage amid war
The Mayasem Association’s Guardians of Heritage team has rescued thousands of items as UNESCO reports extensive damage to Gaza’s cultural sites.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Palestinian archaeologists are working to protect Gaza’s cultural heritage as the conflict continues, Al Jazeera reported on 30 September 2026.
UNESCO says at least 164 cultural sites have been damaged since Israeli military operations began in October 2023 and resumed in March 2026. The Mayasem Association for Culture and Arts’ “Guardians of Heritage” team says it has rescued more than 1,700 historical pieces from four museum collections. Shaimaa Mohammad al‑Natour, the programme’s assistant coordinator, told Al Jazeera the team operates from a temporary tent in al‑Mawasi, Khan Younis, and faces obstacles such as displacement, lack of restoration equipment and Israeli military restrictions, especially near the “Yellow Line” where 196 Palestinians have been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire.
Among the damaged landmarks are the Great Omari Mosque, Hamam al‑Sammara, Qasr al‑Basha in Gaza’s Old City and the al‑Qarara Cultural Museum near Khan Younis. UNESCO estimates that 84 % of all structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.
Key facts
- UNESCO reports 164 cultural sites in Gaza have been damaged since October 2023. (aljazeera.com)
- The Guardians of Heritage team has rescued more than 1,700 historical pieces. (aljazeera.com)
- 84 % of all structures in Gaza are damaged or destroyed, according to UNESCO. (aljazeera.com)
- 196 Palestinians have been killed in the “Yellow Line” area since the October 2025 ceasefire. (aljazeera.com)
- At least 74,022 Palestinians have been killed in the war, per the Al Jazeera report. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Palestinian archaeologists race against time to save Gaza’s heritage”
