Palestinian archaeologists are racing to recover and preserve Gaza’s cultural heritage after extensive damage to historic sites and museums during the war. 

The UNESCO-based figures cited by Al Jazeera say at least 164 cultural sites have been damaged, including the Great Omari Mosque, Hamam al-Sammara, Qasr al-Basha and the al-Qarara Cultural Museum. 

A local group called “Guardians of Heritage” has recovered more than 1,700 historical objects from four museum collections, cataloguing and photographing them before placing them in temporary storage. 

The archaeologists face severe challenges, including limited equipment and storage, humidity and mold, displacement, and difficulties reaching artifacts in areas near the so-called “Yellow Line,” where the team says rescuers face serious safety risks, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The team says its priority is to move beyond emergency recovery toward professional conservation, while also involving Gaza’s communities in documenting and protecting the region’s archaeological sites, traditional crafts and oral history.