عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

Gaza’s Heritage Sites Struggle Against War to ‘Bury Memory’

Part of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion in Tel Um Amir, Gaza, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (UNESCO)
Part of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion in Tel Um Amir, Gaza, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (UNESCO)
TT
TT

Gaza’s Heritage Sites Struggle Against War to ‘Bury Memory’

Part of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion in Tel Um Amir, Gaza, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (UNESCO)
Part of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion in Tel Um Amir, Gaza, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site (UNESCO)

The impact of the unprecedented Israeli war has left Gaza’s heritage severely damaged, mirroring the struggles of its people. Experts believe that the extensive destruction and targeted attacks signal an attempt to “bury memory” under the debris of missiles and shells.

A 2019 survey by the Palestinian National Authority’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities identified 37 archaeological sites in Gaza, representing various historical periods and architectural styles.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, experts estimate that the recent conflict has destroyed over 70% of these sites, either completely or through significant damage.

Dr. Ahmad Al-Astal affirmed that the recent conflict has targeted Gaza’s historic sites, some dating back to 3500 B.C. and 2000 A.D.

Among the most affected are the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City, which has sustained severe damage, and the Church of Saint Porphyrius, thought to be the third oldest church in the world and a key site in the Middle East.

Al-Astal, who leads the Iwan Center for Cultural Heritage at the Islamic University of Gaza, claims that most of Gaza’s landmarks, museums, and archaeological sites have been hit by Israeli airstrikes aimed at erasing the region’s history.

Just three months before the conflict, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of five new graves in the Roman Cemetery in Jabalia, bringing the total to 130 Roman graves found as of July 2023.

Now, Jabalia, along with nearby Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, is a focal point of military operations under the so-called “Generals’ Plan,” which seeks to create an Israeli buffer zone to isolate the northern Gaza Strip.

Al-Astal believes there is a “widespread targeting” of not only religious sites but also museums, graves, and archaeological locations.

UNESCO Listing

Before the war, several museums, including the Pasha Palace and the Rafah Museum, drew many visitors. The site of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion was also discovered in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, dating back 17 centuries.

In July, UNESCO placed the Monastery of Saint Hilarion on its World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, highlighting “the site's significant value and the need for its protection.”

The Monastery of Saint Hilarion is one of the oldest sites in the Middle East. Founded by Saint Hilarion, it housed the first monastic community in the Holy Land.

Located at a major crossroads for trade between Asia and Africa, the monastery was a center for religious, cultural, and economic exchanges, representing the desert monasteries of the Byzantine era.

Due to the threats posed by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the World Heritage Committee included the monastery on its emergency sites list as part of the World Heritage Convention.

Military Sites

A recent study by the Heritage for Peace group found that the Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 2023 has destroyed over 100 archaeological and historical sites. The Gaza government’s media office, affiliated with Hamas, reports that 206 heritage sites have been either severely or partially damaged due to the conflict.

Asharq Al-Awsat experts note that the full extent of the damage is hard to determine, as some sites are located in areas designated as Israeli military zones, restricting access. This includes the Tel Um Amir site near Israeli forces at the Netzarim junction and the Roman Cemetery in northern Gaza, close to other military positions where residents cannot go.

Nearly all of these sites have been targeted, despite some being listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Gaza’s Oldest Mosque

The Great Omari Mosque is among the most heavily damaged archaeological sites in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes. As one of the oldest mosques in the area, it was converted into a cathedral dedicated to John the Baptist by Crusaders in 1149.

The Ayyubids destroyed much of it in 1187, but the Mamluks rebuilt it in the early 13th century. The mosque faced further destruction by the Mongols in 1260, was reclaimed by Muslims, and then damaged in an earthquake at the end of the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Ottomans restored the mosque, but it was again damaged during British bombing in World War I. It was renovated in 1925 by the Higher Islamic Council.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum Announces Ramadan Program 

The Red Sea Museum. (Red Sea Museum)
The Red Sea Museum. (Red Sea Museum)
TT
TT

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum Announces Ramadan Program 

The Red Sea Museum. (Red Sea Museum)
The Red Sea Museum. (Red Sea Museum)

Jeddah's Red Sea Museum announced on Thursday a curated program of creative and cultural activities for the holy month of Ramadan, running from February 22 to March 14.

Led by local artists, artisans, and cultural practitioners, the museum's Ramadan program includes contemplative workshops, storytelling sessions, outdoor community gatherings, and musical performances that honor the spirit of reflection, creativity, and connection.

The series of engaging sessions creates space for visitors to explore traditional crafts, contemporary storytelling, and cultural heritage through hands-on experiences blending creativity and reflection.

Curated for families, artists, and visitors of all backgrounds, the program runs alongside "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea," the museum's major temporary exhibition opening on February 25, which explores how archaeological discoveries reveal centuries of trade, navigation, and human connection across the Red Sea.

In celebration of Founding Day on February 22, the "Inspirational Threads: Makkah & Madinah" contemplative embroidery workshop invites participants to engage with archival black-and-white photographs of the Red Sea, Makkah, and Madinah. Through basic embroidery techniques, participants can embellish these images with Islamic geometric and symbolic motifs, adding layers of color, texture, and meaning while reflecting on devotion, memory, and connection.

The "Radiance in Pieces: Mosaic Lantern" hands-on workshop on February 24 explores the tradition of Islamic mosaic art through the creation of illuminated lanterns inspired by Red Sea heritage. Children and families will learn how small, colorful pieces come together to form meaningful geometric designs, blending creativity, cultural heritage, and reflection.

The opening evening of "Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea" on February 25 features a panel discussion with archaeologists, scientists, and historians exploring the maritime heritage of the Red Sea.

The "One Big Table - Ramadan Gathering" on March 5 brings everyone together in a shared space where families, friends, and neighbors celebrate the spirit of Ramadan.

On March 7, the "From Sand to Porcelain" painting workshop invites participants to paint calligraphy on fine porcelain using natural sand collected from Jeddah to add subtle texture and depth. While learning basic porcelain painting techniques, participants will engage in a reflective, hands-on experience that encourages mindful creation, resulting in a personal keepsake that embodies devotion, place, and the spirit of Ramadan.

In the spirit of International Women's Day on March 8, the "Ramadan Spirit: Thread & Needle" hands-on punch needling workshop explores Ramadan iconography through traditional symbols, including the crescent, star, and lantern. Participants will create textured textile pieces while learning basic punch needle techniques, celebrating both the holy month and the creative contributions of women to traditional textile arts.

On March 14, the "Spirit of Ramadan and the Tale of Jabir Al-Khawatir" storytelling session for children and families explores Ramadan as a season of compassion and healing, reminding people that the spirit of the holy month lives in small acts of care and human connection.

Culture

Saudi Arabia: Ship of Tolerance Initiative Promotes Cultural Dialogue in Jeddah

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) will offer traditional craft workshops throughout Ramadan. SPA
The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) will offer traditional craft workshops throughout Ramadan. SPA
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia: Ship of Tolerance Initiative Promotes Cultural Dialogue in Jeddah

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) will offer traditional craft workshops throughout Ramadan. SPA
The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) will offer traditional craft workshops throughout Ramadan. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the "Lenobadir" volunteer and community partnership program and the Athr Foundation, has launched the Ship of Tolerance initiative in Historic Jeddah during Ramadan.

The initiative aims to enhance shared human values through arts, and promote tolerance and coexistence among children and families. It provides an educational and cultural experience aligned with the area’s unique character as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As part of this global art project, children will create artworks that represent acceptance and dialogue.

The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) will offer traditional craft workshops throughout Ramadan, linking the initiative's values with local heritage and enriching visitors' connection to the region's identity.

This effort supports cultural programs with educational and social dimensions in Historic Jeddah, activating local sites for experiences that combine art, crafts, and community participation. It aligns with the National Strategy for Culture under Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on heritage preservation and expanding culture's impact on daily life.

Culture

Oscar Contender ‘Hamnet’ Boosts Tourism at Shakespeare Heritage Sites 

A view of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, William Shakespeare's childhood home, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Britain, February 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A view of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, William Shakespeare's childhood home, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Britain, February 9, 2026. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Oscar Contender ‘Hamnet’ Boosts Tourism at Shakespeare Heritage Sites 

A view of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, William Shakespeare's childhood home, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Britain, February 9, 2026. (Reuters)
A view of Shakespeare’s Birthplace, William Shakespeare's childhood home, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Britain, February 9, 2026. (Reuters)

On a cloudy winter's day, visitors stream into what was once William Shakespeare's childhood home in Stratford-upon-Avon and the nearby Anne Hathaway's cottage, family residence of the bard's wife.

Hathaway's cottage is one of the settings for the BAFTA and Oscar best film contender "Hamnet", and the movie's success is drawing a new wave of tourists to Shakespeare sites in the town in central England.

Shakespeare's Birthplace is the house the young William once lived in and where his father worked as a glove maker, while Hathaway's cottage is where he would have visited his future wife early in their relationship.

Typically, around 250,000 visitors, from the UK, Europe, the United States, China and elsewhere, walk through the locations each year, according to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. ‌The charity looks after ‌Shakespeare heritage sites, which also include Shakespeare's New Place, the site of ‌the ⁠Stratford home where the ⁠bard died in 1616.

Visitors are flocking in this year thanks to "Hamnet", the film based on Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel, which gives a fictional account of the relationship between Shakespeare and Hathaway, also known as Agnes, and the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet in 1596.

"Visitor numbers have increased by about 15 to 20% across all sites since the film was released back in January. I think that will only continue as we go throughout the year," Richard Patterson, chief operating officer for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said.

"They particularly want ⁠to look (at) Anne Hathaway's cottage and the specifics around how the family ‌engaged in the spaces and the landscape in and around ‌the cottage... you can see why he would have been inspired."

NEW ACCESS TO SHAKESPEARE

"Hamnet" has 11 nominations at ‌Sunday's British BAFTA awards, including best film and leading actress for Jessie Buckley, who plays Agnes. It ‌also has eight Oscar nominations, with Buckley seen as the frontrunner to win best actress.

"Hamnet" is set in Stratford-upon-Avon and London although it was not filmed in Stratford.

It sees Paul Mescal's young Shakespeare fall for Agnes while teaching Latin to pay off his father's debts. The drama, seen mainly through Agnes' eyes, focuses on their ‌life together and grief over Hamnet's death, leading Shakespeare to write "Hamlet".

"Shakespeare... is notoriously enigmatic. He writes about humanity, about feeling, about emotion, about conflict, ⁠but where do we understand ⁠who he is in that story?" said Charlotte Scott, a professor of Shakespeare studies and interim director of collections, learning and research at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

"And that's driven people creative and otherwise for hundreds and hundreds of years. Where is Shakespeare's heart? And this is what the film I think has so beautifully opened up."

Little is known about how the couple met. Shakespeare was 18 and Hathaway 26 when they married in 1582. Daughter Susanna arrived in 1583 and twins Judith and Hamnet in 1585.

The film acknowledges the names Hamnet and Hamlet were interchangeable back then. While grief is a dominant theme, audiences also see Shakespeare in love and as a father.

"A lot of people will see this film not necessarily having... had any kind of relationship with Shakespeare," Scott said.

"So people will come to this film, I hope, and find a new way of accessing Shakespeare that is about creativity, that is about understanding storytelling as a constant process of regeneration, but also crucially, looking at it from that kind of emotive angle."