Factsheet  Targeting of the Cultural and Historical Heritage by Israel’s Aggression against the Gaza Strip

The Palestinian cultural landscape and tangible and intangible cultural heritage have been subject to large-scale attacks, destruction and erasure during the current Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. In addition to Palestinians themselves, over the past 250 days, Israel’s war machine has targeted civilian objects and historical, archaeological and religious monuments and sites across Gaza. The IOF have destroyed cultural and academic institutions, museums, public spaces, and the entire cultural infrastructure. These landmarks harbour the memory and history of Palestinians, who have worked towards protecting their cultural and religious heritage and maintaining their Arab national identity throughout the years of occupation and oppression. Israel’s targeting of the Palestinian cultural and historical identity goes hand in hand with the genocide against the Gaza population. This factsheet provides an initial overview of the damage caused to the most notable archaeological and cultural sites in the Gaza Strip.