Gaza Antiquities Rescued from Destruction Ahead of Israeli Strike
French Biblical and Archaeological School secures evacuation of 28 years of archaeological finds from threatened Gaza City building.
In a high-stakes operation carried out under the shadow of an imminent Israeli strike, nearly three decades' worth of archaeological findings in Gaza were evacuated to safety.
Olivier Poquillon, director of the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem (EBAF), oversaw the evacuation of the school's storehouse located in a residential tower in Gaza City.
The Israeli authorities issued an order for EBAF to evacuate its ground-floor archaeological depot on Wednesday morning.
This move came as Israel prepared military operations in the densely populated urban center.
Despite the absence of confirmation from the Israeli army, international intervention, led by France, UNESCO, and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, managed to secure a temporary reprieve that enabled most artifacts to be rescued.
The evacuation was fraught with logistical challenges due to the collapse of infrastructure and the lack of international presence on the ground.
The concern for human safety and the preservation of historical relics led to a secretive operation, with EBAF prioritizing the protection of lives over the potential loss of irreplaceable artifacts.
The depot housed approximately 180 cubic meters of artifacts from five major archaeological sites in Gaza, including the fourth-century Saint Hilarion Monastery, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Due to the ongoing conflict, these sites have suffered damage, exposing priceless mosaics to further degradation and loss.
Gaza's rich historical heritage, spanning across various eras of human civilization, is under threat.
Both of Gaza's museums have been destroyed or severely damaged since the outbreak of the recent conflicts.
EBAF's storehouse represented the last significant repository of antiquities in the region.
The rediscovery and excavation of these sites began after the 1993 Oslo Accords but saw significant setbacks following Hamas' takeover and Israel's subsequent blockade.
Archaeologists, such as Rene Elter, affiliated with EBAF and scientific coordinator for PUI, expressed concern over the potential loss of invaluable artifacts.
While many items were preserved through documentation before their evacuation, the fate of others remains uncertain.
This preservation of knowledge via documentation serves as a vital record of Gaza's archaeological legacy, safeguarding its history against total erasure.
Olivier Poquillon, director of the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem (EBAF), oversaw the evacuation of the school's storehouse located in a residential tower in Gaza City.
The Israeli authorities issued an order for EBAF to evacuate its ground-floor archaeological depot on Wednesday morning.
This move came as Israel prepared military operations in the densely populated urban center.
Despite the absence of confirmation from the Israeli army, international intervention, led by France, UNESCO, and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, managed to secure a temporary reprieve that enabled most artifacts to be rescued.
The evacuation was fraught with logistical challenges due to the collapse of infrastructure and the lack of international presence on the ground.
The concern for human safety and the preservation of historical relics led to a secretive operation, with EBAF prioritizing the protection of lives over the potential loss of irreplaceable artifacts.
The depot housed approximately 180 cubic meters of artifacts from five major archaeological sites in Gaza, including the fourth-century Saint Hilarion Monastery, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Due to the ongoing conflict, these sites have suffered damage, exposing priceless mosaics to further degradation and loss.
Gaza's rich historical heritage, spanning across various eras of human civilization, is under threat.
Both of Gaza's museums have been destroyed or severely damaged since the outbreak of the recent conflicts.
EBAF's storehouse represented the last significant repository of antiquities in the region.
The rediscovery and excavation of these sites began after the 1993 Oslo Accords but saw significant setbacks following Hamas' takeover and Israel's subsequent blockade.
Archaeologists, such as Rene Elter, affiliated with EBAF and scientific coordinator for PUI, expressed concern over the potential loss of invaluable artifacts.
While many items were preserved through documentation before their evacuation, the fate of others remains uncertain.
This preservation of knowledge via documentation serves as a vital record of Gaza's archaeological legacy, safeguarding its history against total erasure.
