Historic Gaza Monastery Earns UNESCO World Heritage Status Amidst Conflict Out of the 21 countries on the Heritage Committee, 19 voted in favor of the Palestinian request for emergency registration, while Argentina and Ukraine abstained.
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Photo: Dr. Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, Counselor for Political and Media Affairs at the Palestine Embassy, Mounier Anastas, Ambassador of Palestine to UNESCO, and Adnan Abu Alhyja, Ambassador of Palestine to India, celebrate the landmark decision.
NEW DELHI, INDIA: In a significant cultural and political achievement, Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. The decision was made during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi, India, under criteria (ii), (iii), and (vi).
An ancient Christian monastery in Gaza, founded around 340 CE by Saint Hilarion, the monastery is part of Tell Umm Amer, an archaeological site located in the Nuseirat refugee camp of Gaza’s Deir Al-Balah governorate. Submitted for inscription by the Permanent Delegation of Palestine to UNESCO in 2012, its nomination was processed on an emergency basis during the World Heritage Committee’s ongoing annual session.
Out of the 21 countries on the Heritage Committee, 19 voted in favor of the Palestinian request for emergency registration, while Argentina and Ukraine abstained. This outcome marks a notable triumph for the Palestinian delegation amidst the challenging circumstances of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.
Mounier Anastas, Ambassador of Palestine to UNESCO, delivered an official speech highlighting the importance of this recognition for Palestinian cultural heritage and the global acknowledgment of the site’s historical significance. In his speech, Ambassador Anastas stated, “Mr. Chairperson, this inscription is very important for us because it is a message of hope to our people in Gaza, who are fleeing bombs with no shelter, no food or water. Through this inscription, we tell them we have not forgotten you, and UNESCO has not forgotten you either.”
The ambassador also expressed profound gratitude: “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all committee members for their valuable support of this inscription. My sincere thanks and gratitude go not only to the delegation, the government, and the people of Belgium but also to their eminent experts Mme Guilaine Devilliers et Mme Ingrid Boxus, merci la Belgique.”
Following the vote, ambassadors from various countries and members of the participating delegations congratulated the Palestinian representatives on this milestone. The event underscored the resilience and determination of the Palestinian people to preserve and protect their cultural heritage despite ongoing conflicts.
The Palestinian delegation at the session included:
-Mounier Anastas, Ambassador of Palestine to UNESCO
– Adnan Abu Alhyja, Ambassador of Palestine to India
– Dr. Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, Counselor for Political and Media Affairs, Palestine Embassy
– Dr. Ahmad Al-Rajoub, Director General of World Heritage at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Palestine
– Hanan Najajra from the World Heritage Department at the Ministry of Tourism
Saint Hilarion Monastery Occupies a Strategic Position :
Saint Hilarion Monastery, located in An-Nuseirat town, approximately 10 km south of Gaza City and 10 km from its port, occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of major trade and communication routes between Asia and Africa. The site covers approximately 14 dunums and includes ecclesiastical sections, baths, and a hostel, documenting the development of monastic life in Palestine during the Byzantine period.
The monastery, significant for its historical, religious, architectural, and cultural importance, represents a formative milestone in establishing Christian monastic life in Palestine. Founded by Saint Hilarion, it inspired the creation of other Christian monastic centers and monasteries in the Holy Land and the Middle East during the fourth century. The site continued to evolve until the end of the Umayyad period when it was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 AD.
Known in the fifth century as the Monastic School of Gaza, the site became a center for theological discourse and intellectual exchange, attracting scholars and monks from across the Byzantine Empire. The ruins demonstrate architectural innovations and artistic contributions, particularly in mosaic art from the fourth to the eighth centuries.
This recognition by UNESCO not only highlights the historical and cultural value of Saint Hilarion Monastery but also brings attention to the urgent need for its preservation amid the region’s instability. The inclusion of the site on the World Heritage in Danger list aims to mobilize international support and resources to protect this invaluable heritage.
Ambassador Anastas poignantly addressed the current crisis in Gaza, stating, “When I was drafting my speech, I wondered if it was possible to talk about Gaza without mentioning the war. Nevertheless, you will notice, Mr. Chairperson and distinguished members of the committee, that I will not talk about the massive destruction of schools, hospitals, universities, media centers, churches, and mosques. I will not discuss the killing of innocent civilians, including children, women, elders, students, teachers, medical doctors, and journalists, nor the starvation and lack of food and water.” Instead, he focused on the spirit and purpose of the World Heritage Convention, emphasizing the collective responsibility to protect heritage sites as properties of all humanity.
The successful inscription of Saint Hilarion Monastery is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Palestinian people and their commitment to safeguarding their cultural legacy for future generations.
– Dr. Shahid Siddiqui; X @shahidsiddiqui
