Last-Minute Rescue Saves Gaza’s Ancient Treasures From Israeli Strike

4th-century monastery of Saint Hilarion successful the cardinal Gaza Strip. Credit: RIZEK ABDELJAWAD / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

An authoritative who oversaw astir 3 decades of archaeological discoveries successful Gaza said past artifacts were hurriedly evacuated from a gathering successful Gaza City aft it was marked for an Israeli airstrike.

“This was a high-risk operation, carried retired successful an highly unsafe discourse for everyone progressive – a existent last-minute rescue,” said Olivier Poquillon, manager of the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem (EBAF), which housed the collection.

Emergency evacuation nether fire

On Wednesday morning, Israeli authorities ordered the evacuation of EBAF’s archaeological storehouse, located connected the crushed level of a residential operation successful Gaza City.

The Israeli service did not corroborate the warning. However, respective sources said France, UNESCO, and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem intervened to unafraid a little reprieve, giving unit capable clip to region astir of the artifacts.

“With astir nary planetary actors near connected the ground, nary infrastructure, thing functioning, we had to improvise transport, labour and logistics,” Poquillon said. He added that the evacuation was carried retired successful strict secrecy, with the precedence of not putting lives astatine hazard arsenic Israeli forces precocious done Gaza’s largest municipality center.

Priceless postulation astatine risk

The storehouse contained astir 180 cubic meters of finds from 5 of Gaza’s main archaeological sites. Among them was the fourth-century Saint Hilarion monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. EBAF confirmed that each of these sites person been damaged and expressed interest for the fragile mosaics near exposed.

This week, a squad of archaeologists successful Gaza pulled disconnected what mightiness beryllium their astir daring excavation yet, racing to evacuate centuries-old artefacts earlier an Israeli airstrike.

For astir 30 years, the French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem (EBAF) has collected… pic.twitter.com/bDHY8Jx87m

— Histories of the Holy Land Podcast (@TheHistoryOfTh5) September 13, 2025

Poquillon described Gaza arsenic location to “an highly past heritage, precise precious for the region, showing the succession and coexistence of peoples, cultures and religions.”

Cultural losses mount

Since the warfare began astir 2 years ago, 1 of Gaza’s 2 museums has been destroyed and the different severely damaged. Researchers stated that isolated from scattered ruins susceptible to bombardment, the EBAF storehouse had been the past important repository of artifacts successful the Palestinian territory.

The rediscovery of Gaza’s past gained momentum aft the 1993 Oslo Accords. In 1995, the recently established Gaza Antiquities Service began its archetypal excavation with EBAF, uncovering remnants of the ancient Greek larboard of Anthedon and a Roman necropolis.

🚨BREAKING: Gaza’s practice nether attack

🧵In a high-risk, last-minute rescue, priceless artifacts gathered implicit 30 years were evacuated from a Gaza gathering conscionable hours earlier Israel bombed it. The postulation was stored successful the crushed level of a residential operation that the army… pic.twitter.com/hjAHZ0NOqs

— Dr.Sam Youssef Ph.D.,M.Sc.,DPT. (@drhossamsamy65) September 13, 2025

Work stopped successful 2007 erstwhile Hamas seized powerfulness and Israel imposed a blockade, earlier resuming aboriginal with enactment from the British Council and French NGO Première Urgence Internationale (PUI).

Uncertain aboriginal for excavations

With Israel considering a afloat takeover of Gaza and ceasefire talks stalled, archaeologists accidental prospects for renewed excavations are bleak. UNESCO has already identified harm to 94 practice sites utilizing outer images, including the 13th-century Pasha’s Palace, though a afloat inventory has not been possible.

“We saved a ample part, but successful a rescue you ever suffer things, and you ever look achy choices,” said René Elter, an archaeologist with EBAF and technological coordinator for PUI.

He noted the storehouse’s peculiar worth laic successful its systematic classification. “Many items person been breached oregon lost, but they had been photographed oregon drawn, truthful the technological accusation is preserved.” He added, “Perhaps that volition beryllium the lone hint that remains of Gaza’s archaeology—in books, publications, libraries.”