Ms. Alexandra Xanthaki,
UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights
Dear Ms. Xanthaki,
We are writing on behalf of Palestinian cultural institutions to
express our profound dismay regarding the disregard and insufficient response
of your office to the ongoing Israeli cultural annihilation in Gaza/Palestine.
The relentless destruction of Palestinian cultural heritage throughout
Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, now in its fourth month, represents a flagrant
violation of all known international law and humanitarian principles. We
urgently implore you to take a stronger stand by condemning and highlighting
the Israeli army's violation of the cultural rights and heritage of the
Palestinian people, given the harm already inflicted.
Israel’s systematic obliteration of thousands of archaeological and
historical sites, as seen on TV and social media, including the second oldest
church in the world and one of the oldest mosques, among many others,
constitutes a grave assault on the very essence of Palestinian identity and
history.
The recent strategic bombings in Gaza epitomize the ruthless
eradication of Palestinian cultural heritage, flagrantly defying principles of
military necessity and violating fundamental laws of armed conflict. These
deliberate acts not only deprive Palestinians of their right to
self-determination over their cultural resources but also constitute undeniable
war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ongoing assault on Gaza represents a brazen violation of international
humanitarian law, particularly the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection
of Cultural property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
The wanton destruction has inflicted catastrophic damage upon
archaeological sites, historic towns, churches, religious shrines, museums,
libraries, manuscript centers, cultural and artistic institutions,
universities, and academic facilities.
We respectfully demand an immediate statement condemning these
egregious atrocities. Also, a prompt country visit to Gaza/Palestine upon
ceasefire to document and report on Israel's grave violations of Palestinian
cultural rights. Furthermore, we urge you to liaise with the ICC prosecutor’s office
to launch comprehensive investigations to secure accountability for these war
criminal acts.
We eagerly await your immediate response and stand ready to offer
unwavering support in your efforts to address this urgent crisis, including
videos, images, testimonies, etc.
Sincerely,
If you want to stand with us and solidarity with Gaza,
please add your signature and your information below.
This campaign was launched as a joint initiative by the
Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO), and the Resilience Pathways working Group in
Palestine.