Israel/Palestinian Territories – Inclusion of the Tell Umm Amer site on the UNESCO World Heritage and World Heritage in Danger Lists (29 July 2024)

France welcomes the inclusion of the site of the Byzantine Monastery of Saint Hilarion/Tell Umm Amer on the UNESCO World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger, following the World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi on July 25.

That decision offers a ray of hope amid the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. It recognizes the extraordinary value of this monastic site, one of the oldest in the Middle East, and will open the door to enhanced international protection at that site. The inclusion of the site also reminds us of the importance of protecting Gaza’s Palestinian cultural heritage, which is seriously threatened by the current war.

Since 2018, France has made a substantial contribution toward protecting and restoring the Saint Hilarion site, through the ALIPH foundation among others. France will also contribute to the site’s rehabilitation after the war.

France also directly contributed to this important decision by helping the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities compile the application, with French experts presenting it to the World Heritage Committee.

France will ensure that the site is protected, in accordance with the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and the 1954 Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Gaza’s heritage has already suffered considerable blows; according to a preliminary assessment by UNESCO, 50 cultural sites in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed by the bombardments.

As soon as conditions allow, France will help assess the destruction and contribute to the restoration and reconstruction of Gaza’s rich heritage.