It's hard not to follow the rising conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip this week, as the conflict is all over the news and various forms of social media.
With rockets being launched from both sides and Israel talking about a ground invasion on Gaza, what will happen to cultural heritage?
Israel ratified the Hague 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention on October 3rd, 1957, but did not ratify the 1999 Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, which entered into force in 2004.
Palestine, on the other hand, acceded (same legal effect as ratification but is not preceded by an act of signature) both the 1954 Convention and the 1999 Convention on March 22nd 2012.
Since both countries are signatories to at least one of the two conventions, there is hope that if the conflict escalates, cultural property will be respected by both sides.
With rockets being launched from both sides and Israel talking about a ground invasion on Gaza, what will happen to cultural heritage?
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| Marking of cultural property under the convention |
Palestine, on the other hand, acceded (same legal effect as ratification but is not preceded by an act of signature) both the 1954 Convention and the 1999 Convention on March 22nd 2012.
Since both countries are signatories to at least one of the two conventions, there is hope that if the conflict escalates, cultural property will be respected by both sides.
We can only hope that you're right!
ReplyDeleteDo you know if there would be a group to act as guardians?