The Librarians and Archivists with Palestine (LAP) have released a preliminary report detailing the destruction and looting of numerous archives, libraries, and museums in Gaza by Israeli forces from October 2023 through January 2024. The report outlines a sombre landscape of cultural loss, where the collective identity and history of the Palestinian people are said to be systematically erased.
The toll on cultural heritage: archives and libraries in ruins
According to LAP, this campaign against Palestinian cultural heritage is not a new tactic but a continuation of a long-standing strategy aimed at undermining Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination. The report references historical incidents of cultural plunder, including the looting of 30,000 books and manuscripts during the Nakba in 1948 and the confiscation of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s library and archives during Israel’s 1982 Lebanon invasion.
“We compile and offer this information with the understanding that the erasure of Palestinian culture and history has long been an Israeli tactic of war and occupation, a means to further limit the self-determination of the Palestinian people.”
The Librarians and Archivists with Palestine
The damage catalogued in the report includes the complete destruction of the Central Archives of Gaza City, housing 150 years of historical records, and the ancient Omari Mosque and Library, a treasure trove of rare manuscripts dating back to the 7th century. Other significant losses include the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Library within the Rashad al-Shawa Cultural Center and the Islamic University of Gaza Library, both essential hubs for community and learning.
Human cost: the librarians and archivists lost
The LAP’s report also mourns the loss of life among librarians and archivists, who have been killed, injured, or displaced in the ongoing bombardment. These individuals include Abdul Karim Hashash, a passionate advocate for Palestinian heritage, and Doaa Al-Masri, a librarian at the Edward Said Library.
This documentation effort joins other reports by organizations such as Heritage for Peace and the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, highlighting the widespread destruction of cultural and religious sites across Gaza. The intentional targeting of cultural heritage is recognised internationally as a war crime, prompting calls for accountability and protection of these invaluable resources.
Read: Refaat Alareer: books by Palestinian author killed in Gaza
“The destruction of libraries represents the loss of not only book collections, but the efforts of Gaza’s librarians to acquire, care for, and provide access to reading materials, despite Israel’s ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip.”
The Librarians and Archivists with Palestine
The LAP stresses the significance of libraries, archives, and museums not just as repositories of books and artifacts but as community spaces that foster knowledge, identity, and resilience amidst adversity. The report concludes with a plea for the international community to acknowledge and respond to the destruction of Palestinian cultural heritage as a critical aspect of the conflict that demands urgent attention and resolution.
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