Qatar: The Israeli regime’s actions in Gaza are a crime against human heritage

Condemning the Israeli regime’s attack on civilians, educational institutions and cultural places and the assassination of journalists and their families in the Gaza Strip, Qatar emphasized that according to international agreements and conventions, these actions are crimes against human heritage. >
According to the Qatar News Agency (Qena) website, “Nasser Al-Hanzab”, the permanent representative of this country in UNESCO, in his speech at the 219th meeting of the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), added that the Qatari government is targeted He strongly condemns the destruction of educational institutions and cultural places and the assassination of journalists and their families in the Gaza Strip.

He stated: The Israeli regime bombed the “Al-Fakhura” school in the north of the Gaza Strip and many educational institutions for the second time, and in addition to targeting churches, historical monuments, including the “Al-Omari” mosque in Gaza City, which is one of the It destroyed the works of human civilization and cultural heritage in Palestine.

Hanzab emphasized that these actions are a crime against human heritage, which is prohibited according to all international agreements and conventions.

He emphasized Qatar’s support for UNESCO’s efforts, which plays a fundamental role in developing a culture of peace and coexistence, stopping the bloodshed, and lifting any kind of blockade of the Gaza Strip, and adhering to international laws and the resolutions of the UNESCO General Conference, especially regarding the Gaza Strip. .

The 219th meeting of the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) began on March 13 (March 23) in Paris, the capital of France, and will continue until March 27 (April 8, 1403).

Earlier, on February 22, UNESCO issued a statement expressing its deep concern over the destructive effects of the Israeli regime’s attacks on Gaza’s cultural heritage and said that it is currently difficult to protect these works due to conflicts and violations of protection policies and lack of resources. .

UNESCO said in its statement that research on the current state of historical buildings and antiquities in Gaza was conducted using only images taken by the United Nations satellite center “UNOSAT”, which shows that as of February 21, at least 22 The protected area including 5 places of worship, a museum and three archeological sites in Gaza have been damaged.

UNESCO asked the parties to the conflict in Gaza to adhere to the 1954 Hague Convention, according to which the destruction and damage to cultural heritage is prohibited in armed conflicts.

Government Information Office in Gaza reported on December 30, 2023 that more than 200 of the 325 historical and cultural monuments in this area were destroyed by the attacks of the Israeli regime. Among the destroyed historical buildings are Al-Omari Mosque in Jabaliya in the north of Gaza, Byzantine Church in Jabaliya, Sheikh Shaban Mosque, Al-Zafar Damri Mosque in Al-Shajaiyah district of Gaza City, Khizr Shrine in Deir al-Balah city and Khalilur Rahman Mosque in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. And the manuscript center pointed out.

The Israeli regime has been waging a devastating war against the residents of the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, which has resulted in tens of thousands of victims, most of whom are children and women, and has caused widespread destruction of infrastructure and a humanitarian disaster. These crimes caused the representatives of the Israeli regime to appear at the Hague International Court on charges of committing genocide in Gaza.