Wary of Israeli appropriation, Palestine lists 14 sites with UNESCO

Wary of Israeli appropriation, Palestine lists 14 sites with UNESCO Palestinian Authority submits files for Gaza’s Old City and West Bank landmarks to United Nations’ World Heritage list as it aims to protect its cultural heritage from Israeli attacks and appropriation. For Palestinians maintaining their land and heritage, which is under Israeli occupation since 1948, became a national priority. The Palestinian Authority has formally moved to register 14 new cultural and natural sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage tentative list in a bid to safeguard its cultural and historical sites from Israeli appropriation and attacks. “Palestine is not just a space of political conflict, but a civilisation rooted in human history,” Marwa Adwan, acting director-general of World Heritage at the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism, told Al Jazeera. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 A ‘cultural genocide’: Which of Gaza’s heritage sites have been destroyed? list 2 of 4 Why archaeologists must speak up for Gaza list 3 of 4 Ancient Palestinian site near Jericho added to UNESCO World Heritage list list 4 of 4 Photos: Jericho’s Tell es-Sultan added to UNESCO World Heritage list “This diversity is the strongest response to attempts to monopolise the historical narrative,” she said, referring to Israeli attempts to appropriate symbols of Palestinian culture and history. The submission announced by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on January 1, aims to grant international recognition to endangered landmarks across the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by Israel’s genocidal war. More than 200 historical sites were destroyed by Israeli bombing in what experts called a “ cultural genocide “. The new list brings the total number of Palestinian sites on the tentative list to 24, covering a vast timeline from the Canaanite city-states dating back to 3,000 BC to Gaza’s Old City. The 14 submitted sites The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the full list of sites submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list spans prehistoric caves, religious routes, and modern architecture. The sites are: The historic centre of Gaza, including the Great Omari Mosque and the Church of Saint Porphyrius The Byzantine Church of Jabalia (Mukheitim) Canaanite city-states The historic city of Nablus and its environs The Holy Miracles of Jesus Christ in Palestine Monasteries of the Jerusalem wilderness (El-Bariyah) Maqamat (shrines) in Palestine Jerusalem water system Qanat es-Sabeel Jabal al-Fureidis / Herodium The Lower Jordan River Valley Archaeological Palaces of Tulul Abu el-‘Alayiq Cultural landscape of Wadi Kharitoun prehistoric caves Dwelling caves (Al-Maghayir) of Palestine Modern architecture in Palestine Saving Gaza’s history A crucial component of the bid is the protection of heritage in Gaza , which has faced catastrophic destruction during Israel’s genocidal war . The list includes the Great Omari Mosque, built nearly 1,400 years ago, and the Church of Saint Porphyrius , both targeted during Israeli bombardment. The Greek Orthodox Church was built in 425. Adwan described the move as a strategic step for the “day...

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