
Qatar calls on international community to assume responsibility of protecting occupied Palestine's heritage
The State of Qatar, in its capacity as Vice-Chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and representative of the Arab Group, has called on the international community to assume its moral and legal responsibilities to protect cultural heritage sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
This call came at the conclusion of the World Heritage Committee's session, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, emphasizing that the preservation of humanity's heritage is a collective responsibility that cannot tolerate complacency or neglect, especially in light of the growing threats facing this legacy in conflict areas.
In his remarks at the closing session, Qatar's Permanent Representative to UNESCO HE Dr Nasser bin Hamad Al Henzab said that this session has once again reaffirmed the importance of joint action and the need to strengthen international cooperation to protect World Heritage sites from the multiple threats they face, whether stemming from climate change, conflicts, or natural or human-induced deterioration.
He stressed that the State of Qatar firmly believes that protecting humanity's heritage is a shared responsibility that requires effective partnerships and a comprehensive approach combining expertise, knowledge, and political will.
Al Henzab pointed out that in the face of escalating conflicts around the world, highlighting that global cultural heritage now faces unprecedented danger, with humanity's memory, which is rich in symbols and identity, becoming vulnerable to destruction, looting, or marginalization.
He added that this world heritage is a common legacy of all humanity, representing its story, diversity, and shared experiences. He stressed that destroying cultural heritage erases not only stones and buildings, but also obliterates ancestral narratives, severs people's connection to their past, and undermines opportunities for reconciliation and recovery after conflict.
He affirmed that the State of Qatar, as Vice-Chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and representative of the Arab Group, views the targeting of cultural heritage sites in Palestine, whether in Ramallah or Gaza, as a continued and blatant violation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention. He specifically highlighted the ongoing threats to the Ibrahimi Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi) due to Israeli occupation practices, including attempts to alter and seize it, calling on the international community and the World Heritage Centre to take immediate action to protect this historic site in accordance with relevant World Heritage Committee resolutions.
Dr Al Henzab explained that the State of Qatar's position stems from a deep conviction of the need to preserve heritage as a fundamental pillar of identity and cultural diversity, noting that Qatar has long paid great attention to protecting its own cultural and natural heritage and remains fully committed to the standards and principles of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
He confirmed the State of Qatar's keenness to support international efforts to preserve listed sites through unique initiatives aimed at raising awareness of the importance of heritage as a key component of sustainable development.
He renewed Qatar's unwavering commitment to the principles of the World Heritage Convention and expressed his aspiration for continued constructive cooperation with all international partners to safeguard this shared heritage and ensure its preservation and enhancement for future generations.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Israel issues evacuation order in central Gaza
The Israeli military has issued a new forced evacuation warning for the Palestinians in central Gaza, ordering them to move south to al-Mawasi, an area Israel has regularly attacked despite declaring it a 'safe zone'. Thousands of leaflets were dropped over Deir el-Balah on Sunday, telling displaced families living in tents in several densely populated parts of the city to leave immediately. The Israeli military warned of imminent action against Hamas fighters in the area as it continued its deadly attacks on unarmed and starving civilians desperately looking for food, killing dozens of Palestinians on Sunday, at least 73 of them aid seekers in northern Gaza. In a post on X, the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said residents and displaced Palestinians sheltering in the Deir el-Balah area should leave immediately. (Agencies) page 5


Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Israel issues fresh evacuation order in central Gaza
The Israeli military has issued a new forced evacuation warning for the Palestinians in central Gaza, ordering them to move south to al-Mawasi, an area Israel has regularly attacked despite declaring it a 'safe zone'. Thousands of leaflets were dropped over Deir el-Balah on Sunday, telling displaced families living in tents in several densely populated parts of the city to leave immediately. The Israeli military warned of imminent action against Hamas fighters in the area as it continued its deadly attacks on unarmed and starving civilians desperately looking for food, killing dozens of Palestinians on Sunday, at least 73 of them aid seekers in northern Gaza. In a post on X, the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said residents and displaced Palestinians sheltering in the Deir el-Balah area should leave immediately. Israel was 'expanding its activities' around Deir el-Balah, including 'in an area where it has not operated before', Adraee said, telling Palestinians to 'move south towards the al-Mawasi area' on the Mediterranean coast 'for your safety'. Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said the area targeted by Israel is densely populated and it would be 'impossible' for the affected residents to leave on short notice. 'Palestinians here are refusing to leave and say they are going to stay in their houses because even the areas designated as safe by the Israeli army have been targeted,' she said. (Agencies)


Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Syria declares new Suwayda ceasefire, deploys forces to ‘restore security'
Agencies Damascus Syria's security forces have begun deploying in the restive southern province of Suwayda, a Ministry of Interior spokesperson has said, where heavy fighting between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces has left hundreds dead, compounded by Israeli military intervention. The deployment on Saturday came hours after the United States announced that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire, an as yet uncertain truce amidst overnight fighting. Syria's government announced the ceasefire early on Saturday, saying in a statement it is being enacted 'to spare Syrian blood, preserve the unity of Syrian territory, the safety of its people'. The country's president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a televised address, stated that he 'received international calls to intervene in what is happening in Suwayda and restore security to the country'. Israeli intervention has 'reignited tensions' in the city, with fighting there 'a dangerous turning point', he said, also thanking the US for its support. Earlier, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba had said in a statement on Telegram that 'internal security forces have begun deploying in Suwayda province … with the aim of protecting civilians and putting an end to the chaos.' Ethnically charged clashes between Druze and Bedouin armed groups and government forces have reportedly left hundreds dead in recent days. On Wednesday, Israel launched heavy air attacks on Syria's Ministry of Defence in the heart of Damascus, and also hit Syrian government forces in the Suwayda region, claiming it had done so to protect the Druze, who it calls its 'brothers'. 'Al-Sharaa said that national unity was a priority for his government and that part of the role of the government was to be a neutral referee between all parties,' said Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from the capital Damascus. 'He praised the people of Suwayda, other than the few elements that wanted to sow trouble, saying that both Druze and Arab communities in the city were noble people.' It was unclear whether Syrian troops reached Suwayda city as of Saturday morning or were still on the city's outskirts, Vall said. Bedouin tribal fighters had been waiting to hear more from the government about the ceasefire, while Druze leaders have varying attitudes on it – some welcoming it, and others pledging to continue fighting, he added. Bedouin fighters in Damascus on Saturday were preparing to travel to the Druze-majority city to support Bedouin fighters there. On Friday, an Israeli official, who declined to be named, told reporters that in light of the 'ongoing instability in southwest Syria', Israel had agreed to allow the 'limited entry of the [Syrian] internal security forces into Suwayda district for the next 48 hours'. According to Syria's Health Ministry, the death toll from fighting in the Druze-majority city is now at least 260. An estimated 80,000 people have fled the area, according to the International Organization for Migration.