Palestine condemns Israeli excavations at archaeological sites in West Bank

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Israeli excavation and bulldozing works at archaeological sites in Sebastia, located north of Nablus in the West Bank. In a recent statement, the ministry expressed grave concerns over the threats facing Sebastia, particularly after its inclusion on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger.

The ministry emphasized that these actions constitute a clear violation of international humanitarian law, specifically the obligations of the occupying power to protect cultural property and prevent its misuse for occupation purposes. Furthermore, the ministry highlighted the contravention of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

The Palestinian side stressed that any looting, distortion, or alteration of Palestinian antiquities not only breaches UNESCO conventions but also represents an attack on Palestinian presence and world heritage, aiming to control the site and erase its historical identity. The ministry urged UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee, international organizations, and the global community to take immediate action to halt these destructive activities, safeguard the site's authenticity, and hold the occupying authorities accountable for their violations.

Brief written by urgent.news from Ajel English's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.