Deir Hilarion in Gaza Strip Included on List of World Heritage in Danger

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced Friday the inclusion of the site of St. Hilarion Umm Amer Hill in the Gaza Strip on the List of World Heritage in Danger, under the 1972 World Heritage Convention. This came during the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in the Indian capital, New Delhi, which continues until July 31. HE Dr. Nasser bin Hamad Al Henzab, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Vice-Chairman of the Heritage Committee for the Arab Group, stressed during today's meeting that the State of Qatar was working hard with all member states of the World Heritage Committee to enhance the protection of heritage sites, in accordance with the World Heritage Convention. HE Al Henzab also noted in his speech that the world today needs more than ever for the international community to assume its responsibilities seriously, honestly and respectfully for the international agreement, calling on the World Heritage Committee to make more efforts to protect other sites in Gaza. HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to UNESCO also praised the member states of the Heritage Committee that approved this historic decision regarding the preservation of this important heritage site in occupied Palestine, especially in the current circumstances. For his part, Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek, said today: "Palestine has succeeded in registering the site of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion in the central Gaza Strip on the List of World Heritage in Danger." Al-Hayek added in a statement: "This came during the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in the Indian capital, New Delhi." He explained that the Monastery of St. Hilarion, also known as Umm Amer Hill, continued to be used and developed until the 8th century AD, as the monastery appears on the famous 6th century archaeological mosaic map known as Taba ta. He praised UNESCO's emergency decision to register the site on the World Heritage in Danger List, considering it an authentic part of the distinctive Palestinian heritage of exceptional human value. The ruins of the Monastery of Hilarion are located in the municipality of Nuseirat, about 10 km south of Gaza City, at the intersection of trade routes between Asia and Africa, making it an important center for cultural and economic exchange, and has exceptional historical, religious, architectural and cultural significance. The archaeological site is the largest in the Middle East since the Byzantine era, and one of the most important and oldest monasteries in Palestine and the Levant, including church structures, and archaeological artifacts, including exceptional mosaics. The floors also include a Greek inscription decorated with circular motifs. Source: Qatar News Agency