In the Palestinian Territories, volunteers are working tirelessly to preserve Gaza's rich cultural heritage, which has been severely damaged by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Over 160 historic and cultural sites have been affected, with many artefacts dating back thousands of years.
Inside a large tent in Khan Yunis, volunteers armed with paintbrushes and wearing surgical gloves delicately clean stone mosaics before placing them into storage. 'Several mosaic artworks have been lost or destroyed, either completely or partially,' said Mohammed Abu Lahia, a Palestinian visual artist involved in the preservation efforts.
The Mayasem Association for Culture and Arts, an NGO leading the preservation efforts, has catalogued artefacts for safekeeping. Despite severe restrictions on goods entering Gaza, volunteers have improvised solutions, such as using ordinary paintbrushes to clean mosaics and creating a makeshift scanning station to digitise old photographs and documents.
Not all preserved items are ancient; many date from the 20th century, including the late Ottoman period, the British Mandate, and the Egyptian administration. 'This is a paper archive containing maps of Khan Yunis and structural maps of the Khan Yunis area from the time of the British Mandate,' said volunteer Taghreed Hajjari.
Efforts to preserve artefacts continue, despite the challenges posed by the conflict. 'We documented their oral histories so they can serve as a reference for future generations,' Hajjari added. The significance of these efforts extends beyond Gaza, highlighting the universal value of preserving cultural heritage.
