Since the start of the 2023–24 war on Gaza, Palestinian cultural heritage has undergone widespread destruction from Israeli targeting of ancient sites, historic and religious buildings, museums, cultural and academic buildings, public buildings, and infrastructure. More than 100 archeological sites, 256 historical buildings, many museums, hospitals, libraries, cemeteries, and over 100,000 archaeological objects, were destroyed. This essay presents a brief summary of cultural heritage policies in Palestine, protections of cultural heritage guaranteed by international humanitarian law and the protective role of UNESCO and other similar organizations. It then gives a preliminary assessment of the war’s destruction to cultural sites in Gaza up to early 2024, recommends future action for a comprehensive assessment of the damage, and proposes mechanisms for legal follow-up and a framework for plans and programs for recovery and rebuilding.
