UNESCO Adds Historic Monastery in Gaza to List of Endangered Sites

UNESCO has added the ancient Saint Hilarion Monastery, also known as Tell Umm Amer, in Gaza to its endangered sites list as a result of the ongoing war with Israel. The decision was announced during the 46th iteration of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India.

One of the oldest, largest, and most complex monasteries, the monastery dates back to the 4th century CE. The site was home to the first monastic community in the Holy Land. Though it has been on the organization’s tentative heritage list since 2012, its status was fast-tracked using emergency procedures.

A native to the area, Saint Hilarion founded the eponymous site, which boasts two churches, a baptism hall, a burial ground, and a public cemetery, as well as an audience hall and dining rooms. After it was damaged, the monastery was ultimately abandoned in the early 7th century CE. It was later rediscovered by local archaeologists in 1999.

Conservation projects undertaken by the Switzerland-based foundation Aliph and the British Council (led by Première Urgence Internationale) have helped to protect and restore the site.

“UNESCO expresses deep concern about the impact of the ongoing conflict on cultural heritage, particularly in the Gaza Strip,” a statement released by UNESCO explained, adding, “The organization urges all involved parties to strictly adhere to international law, emphasizing that cultural property should not be targeted or used for military purposes, as it is considered civilian infrastructure.”

Since the start of the conflict last October, more than 39,000 Gazans have been killed, according to the local health ministry, with most of the strip’s 2.3 million people being forced to evacuate their homes.

There have been more than 100 cultural landmarks and historic sites destroyed in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes. The monastery joins four other landmarks in Palestine on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, which offers technical and financial assistance towards the protection and rehabilitation of each site.