Aid workers in Gaza raced against time to save thousands of ancient artifacts before an Israeli airstrike destroyed a warehouse. First, they spent nine hours negotiating with the Israeli military. Then, they scrambled to find trucks in a city where fuel is scarce. Finally, they packed the artifacts for six hours, carefully stacking them on open flatbed trucks.

The warehouse contained treasures from 25 years of excavations, including items from a 4th-century Byzantine monastery recognized by UNESCO and some of the earliest evidence of Christianity in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel said the building housed Hamas intelligence installations and planned to demolish it during military operations in Gaza City.

“It’s not just about Palestinian heritage or Christian heritage, it’s something important to the world heritage here, protected by UNESCO,” said Kevin Charbel, emergency field coordinator for Première Urgence Internationale (PUI), which has worked in Gaza since 2009.

Frantic Negotiations

Earlier, COGAT, Israel’s body overseeing humanitarian aid, warned PUI about the planned demolition. Charbel spent nine hours pleading for a delay to allow workers to move the artifacts.

However, finding trucks proved difficult. “Five minutes before I had to accept this was going to be evaporated in front of us, another actor offered us transport,” he said. Consequently, PUI partnered with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to move the artifacts to a safer, undisclosed location.

Ancient Treasures at Risk

The French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem managed the site. It held 80 square meters of artifacts, including ceramic jugs, mosaics, coins, plasterwork, and remains from the Saint Hilarion Monastery, one of the oldest Christian monastic communities in the Middle East.

In addition, Gaza has dozens of ancient sites, from temples to mosaics, some dating back 6,000 years. Unfortunately, urban growth, looting, and war have destroyed many. UNESCO struggles to preserve what remains.

Emergency Packing

At sunrise, workers rushed to load five flatbed trucks in six hours. Normally, transporting such artifacts requires special care, closed containers, and protections. Yet, the Israeli military allowed only open trucks, exposing items to damage. As a result, some broke, and others had to be left behind. Israel destroyed the warehouse on Sunday, claiming Hamas used it for intelligence operations.

Ongoing Danger

Currently, the rescued artifacts sit in a different location in Gaza City, but they remain exposed to the elements and at risk from airstrikes. UNESCO reported that Israel has damaged at least 110 cultural sites since October 2023, including religious sites, historic buildings, a museum, and archaeological locations.

Moral Dilemma

Charbel reflected on the risks. “Did it make sense to use so much fuel and trucks and risk lives for objects when the humanitarian situation is so dire?” he asked.

Nevertheless, he decided the mission was worth it. “But we accepted to do this, because it’s so valuable, this stuff, it’s of such importance to world history and also Palestinian history. Destroying early examples of Christian history in Palestine would erase it forever,” he said.