The impact of conflict on cultural heritage

Georg Hegel, a renowned German philosopher, once made a thought-provoking statement about the nature of history: “The only thing that we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.” Across the course of history, military conflicts have consistently caused widespread devastation and suffering in the lives of people.

Conflicts not only results in significant human suffering, but also in the extensive devastation of cultural and heritage properties undermining the stability of peace, and security. The systematic looting and destruction of art and cultural things across Europe by the Nazi regime during the Second World War remains one of the most famous examples of cultural assets being purposely targeted.

The substantial casualties in terms of human lives and resources, including notable cultural properties, in the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Hamas, have received prominent coverage in the global media. However, Amichai Eliyahu, the Minister of Heritage and Israeli far-right leader in the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, made top headlines across the global media when he openly threatened Hamas with dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza Strip.

His outrageous statement came despite the fact that Israel has been criticised internationally for its racist and apartheid policies, as well as the widespread protests that have been taking place around the world against the disproportionate killings of Palestinians, mostly children and women. Strangely, the heritage minister seems to have an unwavering desire to completely destroy Gaza, going so far as to suggest the use of nuclear weapons on the entire Gaza Strip.

Historic Palestine

Palestine is a city that holds immense religious, historical, and cultural importance, with a multitude of remarkable historical landmarks. There are two treasured world heritage sites: the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Both sites, located in close proximity, commemorate the place where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is believed to have prayed during his night journey to the heavens (Shab-e-Meraj).

Many Christians and Jews, not just Muslims, view Palestine as a sacred land. Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus, plays a significant role in the biblical narrative of Jesus Christ's life and Jerusalem is the third holiest city of Muslim after Mecca and Madina. These places are widely revered by Muslims, Christians, and Jews around the world, attracting a large number of pilgrims.

In addition, Palestine is the birthplace of numerous Prophets, such as Hazrat Ibrahim, Ishaq, Dawood, Yaqub, Sulayman, Zakariya, Yahiya, and Hazrat Isa. Therefore, Palestine showcases a significant wealth of both cultural and religious legacy. Nevertheless, the persistent conflict and Israeli occupation have hindered the majority of Palestinians from getting access to these sacred religious and pilgrimage sites.

Significance of Cultural Heritage

The global significance of cultural heritage can be assessed by looking at the Preamble of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, popularly known as The Hague Convention (1954).

It states “any damage to cultural property, irrespective of the people it belongs to, is damage to the cultural heritage of all humanity, because every people contribute to the world's culture”. While United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says that cultural heritage enriches our lives in countless ways and helps build inclusive, innovative, and resilient communities that range from cherished historic monuments and museums to living heritage practices and contemporary art forms.

Thus, heritage encompasses the cultural inheritance passed down from previous generations, experienced in the present, and handed down to future generations. Nevertheless, the current appalling scale of Israel’s assault on Gaza has not only resulted in the tragic loss of thousands of Palestinian lives, but has also caused the destruction of significant cultural landmarks, such as the Saint Porphyrius’ Greek Orthodox Church, which had stood for 1700 years, and the great Al-Omari mosque, which had a history of 1400 years. It appears that the Israel aims to not only displace the vulnerable Palestinians from Gaza Strip, but also eradicate their rich cultural heritage.

Heritage, not hate, should be protected

On the one hand, given the significance of preserving cultural heritage for everyone, it is crucial to have universal protection laws strictly implemented. The Hague Convention mandates the member states to protect the cultural properties without any ifs and buts. But on the other hand, media reports highlight the extensive destruction across Gaza.

Qasr al-Basha, also known as Pasha's Palace Museum, was a medieval palace located in the Old City of Gaza. It currently served as a museum and a girls' school. During the Mamluk and Ottoman empires, it functioned as a centre of authority.

The Israeli airstrikes have effectively razed the entire palace, aiming to eradicate the longstanding Arab Islamic history, legacy, and identity. Thus, Israel’s right to defend results in near total obliteration of the Palestinian and their heritage.

In order to protect the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata from potential attacks by the Japanese Air Force during the Second World War, it was camouflage by applying a coat of greyish black paint. This incident confirms that heritage buildings frequently falls victim to hostilities due to its proximity to conflict zones. However, destruction of heritage fosters a cycle of violence, animosity, and retribution among individuals and between societies.

It undermines the fundamental pillars of peace, and social harmony. For instance, the demolition of Babri Mosque, three decades ago, stands as a significant event that caused a division in India's syncretic culture and communal harmony. Blinded by religious fervour, scholars and politicians from both sides of the communities refused to recognise the Babri Mosque, which had a history of 500 years, as a significant cultural and heritage landmark.

Thus, preserving cultural heritage and dealing with crimes committed against it have been a core value of UNESCO's mission since its inception. However, it remains unclear why the Hague Convention and UNESCO, which are important international bodies dedicated to preventing destruction of cultural properties, were unable to protect cultural heritage during the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Ukraine, and currently in Palestine.

As reported by the Government Media office in Gaza, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have deliberately attacked and demolished over 200 historical and cultural sites in the Gaza strip since October 7. Similarly, since February 2022, a total of 331 cultural sites in Ukraine have incurred damage as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to UNESCO, as of November 2023, a total of 125 religious sites, 144 historically and artistically significant structures, 29 museums, 19 monuments, 13 libraries, and 1 archive have been targeted throughout conflicts, resulting in significant damage to these cultural treasures.

Underlining the problems

Heritage sites or properties should not involve feelings of animosity because it is not about hatred. It is about our roots. It revolves around our identity and origins. Heritage is about our cultural teachings, awareness, and experiences. In today's interconnected world, cultural heritage is also a highly influential resource for transforming societies.

The Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative, near the world heritage site Humayun Tomb, led by the Agha Khan Trust for Culture, is a remarkable case study of effectively combining heritage preservation, socio-economic progress, and environmental development. Heritage serves as a testament to history and is deeply intertwined with the identity of individuals and communities.

Hence, the international community has a responsibility to safeguard and preserve heritage sites for future generations beyond the immediate period of conflicts. The importance of preserving cultural heritage during armed conflicts can be gauged by the UN Security Council resolution 2347 which primarily aims to emphasise that the unlawful destruction of cultural heritage, in times of armed conflicts, can exacerbate and escalate hostilities.

This, in turn, undermines the security, stability, socio-economic and cultural progress of the affected nations. However, protection and preservation of cultural heritage worldwide is under intense stress because of insensitivity and disregard for heritage sites and the sheer failure of the UN bodies and other international agencies.

In addition, conservation of cultural heritage worldwide is encountering several challenges such as poor planning, inadequate allocation of resources for preservation, complicated legal frameworks, and ineffective execution of heritage protection legislations.

These issues are not novel rather it has a profound historical origin and has been sustained by the ruling elite under the influence of a certain political and ideological considerations. It is also linked to lack of understanding and appreciation for cultural heritage.

By Dr. Sarfaraz Nasir

Dr. Sarfaraz Nasir is a visiting faculty in AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.