Qatar calls on international community to assume responsibility of protecting occupied Palestine's heritage

Paris: The State of Qatar, in its capacity as Vice Chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and representative of the Arab Group, called on the in...

Paris: The State of Qatar, in its capacity as Vice-Chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and representative of the Arab Group, 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, HE Qatar’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO 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.