"Israel-Hamas Conflict Leaves Gaza's Cultural Heritage in Ruins"

The recent Israeli attacks on Gaza have not only caused immense destruction and loss of life but have also devastated the enclave's cultural institutions, including its libraries. The Gaza Municipal Library and the Rashad al-Shawa Cultural Center, which hosted a historic meeting between President Bill Clinton and Yasser Arafat, have been reduced to rubble. The destruction of these libraries, along with museums, archaeological sites, and university campuses, has left residents mourning the loss of these cultural beacons and communal spaces. The Gaza City municipality has called on UNESCO to protect Gaza's cultural institutions, emphasizing their importance and the need to preserve them.