Israel's war damages Gaza's historic palace, loots thousands of artifacts

Gaza's cultural heritage faces systematic destruction as Israeli military operations have damaged historical sites and led to the disappearance of thousands of artifacts. The Qasr al-Basha, a significant Mamluk-era palace in Gaza City, has sustained substantial damage, with experts describing the loss as an assault on Palestinian identity and global cultural heritage.

Systematic Destruction of Heritage

According to Gaza's Government Media Office, Israeli forces have destroyed more than 316 archaeological sites and buildings across the coastal enclave. Ismail al-Thawabteh, head of the media office, stated that "the Israeli army has systematically and extensively destroyed Gaza's archaeological sites as part of a policy aimed at erasing Palestinian identity." The damaged sites include structures dating to the Mamluk, Ottoman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods.

Historical Palace Severely Damaged

The Qasr al-Basha palace, built upon an ancient site recognized by UNESCO, has suffered approximately 70% damage according to cultural heritage expert Hamouda Al-Dahdar. Located in Gaza City's historic Al-Daraj neighborhood, the palace had previously been restored by Palestinian authorities and converted into a museum featuring valuable historical collections before its recent destruction.

Widespread Looting of Artifacts

Beyond physical destruction, the conflict has resulted in the disappearance of over 20,000 rare artifacts spanning from prehistoric eras to the Ottoman period. Thawabteh described the loss as "organized looting, a practice criminalized under international law." Dahdar confirmed that thousands of diverse artifacts vanished after Israeli forces raided the museum, calling the incident "a grave cultural crime that affects national identity and humanity's shared heritage."

Long History of Cultural Targeting

This is not the first time the palace has faced damage during Israeli military operations. The site previously suffered destruction before Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 1994. The current conflict that began in October 2023 has resulted in the most extensive damage to date, compounding the loss of Palestinian cultural heritage amid widespread devastation throughout the territory.