麻豆APP

9 March 2026

Summary:

This document is submitted pursuant to 222 EX/Decision 40, by which the Executive Board decided to include the item entitled “Occupied Palestine” on the agenda of the 224th session. The present document provides a progress report on developments since the 222nd session of the Executive Board.

Decision required: paragraph 16.

Sub-item I: “Jerusalem”

1. The Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Site proposed by Jordan) is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and on the List of World Heritage in Danger and is the sacred city of the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The historical, cultural and spiritual significance of Jerusalem, as a microcosm of humanity’s diversity is, in itself, an appeal for dialogue.

2. Pursuant to relevant decisions of the Executive Board and the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO has sought to facilitate exchanges between Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian (including Jordanian Waqf) experts regarding the protection of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, including to facilitate the UNESCO Reactive Monitoring mission to the Old City and a UNESCO experts’ meeting on the Mughrabi Ascent. At the time of the preparation of this document, the monitoring mission and experts meeting had not yet been undertaken. The state of conservation of the property will be examined at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, in July 2026. It is noticeable that the pertaining decisions and resolutions of the Executive Board, the General Conference and the World Heritage Committee have been adopted on a consensual basis since October 2017.

3. In accordance with the agreement signed between UNESCO and the Norwegian Government in December 2011 on the project entitled “Ensuring the Sustainability of the Centre for Restoration of Islamic Manuscripts of the Haram al Sharif in Jerusalem”, UNESCO has continued to build the centre’s capacities for the preservation of Islamic manuscripts. Committed to building the long-term sustainability of the centre, the Government of Norway renewed its support to UNESCO in 2020 for a new phase of the project, the aim of which is to make the centre fully operational and autonomous through the restoration of the premises and the elaboration of a long-term conservation and management strategy. The capacities of the staff have been reinforced with the support of international and local experts on conservation and restoration procedures. Three additional specialized training workshops have also been organized in the field of parchment restoration. In April 2025, a one-week training course was organized for three restorers from the Manuscripts Centre at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. The course aimed to introduce the restorers to museums-management techniques and familiarize them with the process of building exhibitions. Since November 2025, four staff of the Manuscripts Centre have been enrolled in a course on Islamic decoration and Arabic calligraphy at the Al-Qasemi Academy at Baqa al-Gharbiyye, in the framework of the project. A training session on curatorial and digital assets, as well as learning and outreach, was also organized. Restoration and conservation work, alongside digitization and inventory of the collections continues to be undertaken by the specialized units. In addition, new storage safety cabinets including security and climate-control systems were installed and restoration material delivered to the Manuscripts Centre to enhance the preservation of manuscripts. A mezzanine to provide additional space for manuscripts and upgraded laboratory facilities were also installed.

4. In the context of the project entitled “The Safeguarding, Refurbishment and Revitalization of the Islamic Museum of Haram al Sharif and its Collection”, which is funded by Saudi Arabia, the premises of the Museum have been renovated and equipped, and staff have been appointed and trained in areas of inventorying, cataloguing, basic conservation, restoration, photography and ICTs. Discussions had been initiated with the Jordan and Jerusalem Awqaf to continue supporting the Museum when the situation allows.

5. Since the 222nd session of the Executive Board, the Secretariat received a letter from the Permanent Delegation of the State of Palestine dated 24 November 2025 regarding a recent expropriation order issued by the State of Israel for the site of Sebastia (Tentative List), with a technical report prepared by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of the State of Palestine. Furthermore, a letter was received from the Permanent Delegation of the State of Palestine, dated 8 December 2025, reporting on the archaeological site of al-Mazra’a al-Sharqiya, where a military incursion took place, during which archaeological columns and structural elements were transferred. The letter referred to the respect of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

6. In addition, the Secretariat received two joint letters from the Permanent Delegation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of the State of Palestine to UNESCO, regarding the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, dated 18 November 2025 and 29 December 2025. The letters expressed concerns about the obstruction recorded by the State of Palestine of essential restoration works at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and the continued excavations in the area of the Umayyad Palaces. The letters referred to the respect of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1972 World Heritage Convention, the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Additionally, a letter from the Permanent Delegation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to UNESCO, dated 12 December 2025, reported on escalating actions carried out at Muslim and Christian holy sites within the property. The letter reports a “significant rise in incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharafi” as well as “arbitrary restrictions and obstructions imposed against worshippers”.

7. Moreover, a letter was received from the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to UNESCO dated 15 January 2026, concerning the Palestine Archaeological Museum/Rockefeller Museum and the Israeli violation recorded by the State of Palestine of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Finally, the Secretariat received a letter from the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to UNESCO dated 11 February 2026 and drawing urgent attention to a series of measures adopted by the Israeli Cabinet, which according to the State of Palestine severely threatens Palestinian cultural heritage properties. Finally, the Secretariat has received a letter from the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to UNESCO, dated 23 February 2026, reporting Israeli violations at the Church of the Visitation in Ein Karem, Jerusalem.

8. The Secretariat has followed up on these letters with the State of Israel asking it to provide relevant information. A reply has not been received yet.

9. Information relating to the correspondences received during the reporting period is reflected in the Annex to this document.

Sub-item II: “Reconstruction and development of Gaza”

10. Information on UNESCO’s emergency assistance to Gaza is included in document 224 EX/5.I.D as per the General Conference Resolution “Impact and consequences of the current situation in the Gaza Strip/Palestine in all aspects of UNESCO’s mandate” (43 C/Resolution 63) and Executive Board Decision 222 EX/Decision 4.I.M.

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

11. Information on UNESCO’s work in this area is available in document 224 EX/23 “Implementation of 43 C/Resolution 53 and 222 EX/Decision 41 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories”.

GENDER EQUALITY

12. Information on UNESCO’s work in this area is available in document 224 EX/23 “Implementation of 43 C/Resolution 53 and 222 EX/Decision 41 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories”.

Sub-item III: “The two Palestinian sites of Al-?aram al-Ibrāhīmī/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Al-Khalīl/Hebron and Bilāl ibn Rabā? Mosque/Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem”

13. Following the inscription of Hebron/Al-Khalīl Old Town on the World Heritage List, as well as on the List of World Heritage in Danger, at the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee (July 2017), a meeting was held in December 2018 at UNESCO Headquarters between the Permanent Delegation of the State of Palestine, Palestinian experts, Advisory Bodies as well as the UNESCO office in Ramallah and the World Heritage Centre to initiate a review of the draft statement of Outstanding Universal Value. The finalized statement of Outstanding Universal Value was adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session. A hybrid meeting was organized in May 2025 between the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee and the UNESCO Secretariat to discuss the state of conservation of the property, including challenges and threats affecting its integrity as well as a monitoring mission. A request from the State of Palestine for International Assistance under the World Heritage fund was approved on 16 February 2026 for the review and update of the management and conservation plan as well as the database for the property. The state of conservation of Hebron/Khalīl Old Town will be examined at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in July 2026.

14. Since the 222nd session of the Executive Board, the Secretariat received several letters from the Permanent Delegation of the State of Palestine to UNESCO dated 18 November 2025, 12 January 2026, 13 January 2026, 16 January 2026, concerning the reported approval of a large-scale settlement construction project on the site of the historic Central Vegetable Market (Al-Hisbeh), a decision by the State of Israel to strip the Hebron Municipality of its planning authority at Al-Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, invitation for a Reactive Monitoring mission in line with Decision 47 COM 7A.45 of the World Heritage Committee, and transmission of a technical report, in Arabic, concerning the situation at Al-Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs. In addition, two letters were received from the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee dated 25 September 2025 and 25 November 2025, reporting on an acquisition order by Israel of the open courtyard within the Al-Ibrahimi Mosque/The Tomb of the Patriarchs, as well as plans and detailed architectural drawings for its covering. The Secretariat has followed up with the State of Israel asking it to provide relevant information, recalling the latest decision of the World Heritage Committee and its annex, and requesting authorization for the organization of the mission (Decision 47 COM 7A.45). Moreover, the Secretariat has received a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Expatriates and a letter from the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to UNESCO dated 19 January 2026 and 26 January 2026 reporting escalating and illegal measures undertaken by the State of Israel and calling for the operationalization of the Reactive Monitoring Mission to the property.

15. Information relating to the correspondence received during the reporting period is reflected in the Annex to this document.

Proposed draft decision

16. In the light of the above, the Executive Board may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines:

The Executive Board,

1. Having examined document 224 EX/22, as well as the annexes attached to this decision,

2. Recalling its previous decisions concerning “Occupied Palestine”,

3. Decides to include this item in the agenda of its 225th session, and invites the Director-General to submit to it a follow-up report thereon.

Note: The annexes to this document are available in the original source (PDF format).