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Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent

ISRAELI forces have destroyed more than 200 United Nations (UN) world heritage sites in the Gaza Strip in the ongoing genocide which has seen more than 25 105 Palestinians killed while 62 681 were injured.

In a statement, Ambassador of the State of Palestine Dr Tamer Almassri called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its flagrant violations of international law that include the destruction of archaeological and heritage sites in the Gaza Strip. 

The destroyed sites include ancient mosques, churches, schools, museums and archaeological sites. 

Ambassador Almassri said Israeli forces were destroying the sites in a failed attempt to obliterate the Palestinian cultural heritage.

“The state of Palestine demands the Israeli occupation state to return all the stolen artefacts from Gaza heritage sites.

“The heritage and archaeological sites that have been destroyed include some of which that date back to the Phoenician era, Roman era, 800 BC and some of which that date back to 400 years ago. In the Holy land of Palestine, the occupation is trying to change its features through bombing and direct targeting.

“The most prominent sites destroyed by the occupation army are the Byzantine Church of Jabalia, the Al-Omari Mosque in Jabalia, the Sheikh Shaaban Mosque, the Al-Dhafar Damri Mosque in Al-Shuja’iya, the Al-Khader Shrine in Deir Al-Balah, the Balakhiya site “Anthedon Port” northwest of old Gaza City, and the Khalil Al-Rahman Mosque in the Abasan area in Khan Yunis (south of the Gaza Strip), the center of ancient manuscripts and documents in Gaza City, among other important archaeological and heritage sites”.

Ambassador Almassri said the Israeli occupation’s targeting and destruction of heritage and archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip is considered a clear international crime in accordance with international laws, especially international humanitarian law, the 1954 Hague Convention regarding the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and the Second Protocol to the Convention of 1999, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of cultural and religious sites in all circumstances. 

“The State of Palestine calls on all international and international organisations related to the cultural and heritage dimension to condemn this organised crime committed by the ‘Israeli’ occupation army in the Gaza Strip and to intervene immediately to stop this crime and work to rehabilitate and restore these destroyed heritage and cultural sites,” he said.