Palestine's Sebastia Archaeological Site Inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage in Danger List

Palestine has successfully inscribed the archaeological site of Sebastia onto UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani al-Hayek announced on Friday. The decision was made during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea. The committee approved the inscription of Sebastia through an emergency procedure and based on criterion (iii) of the World Heritage Convention, following the endorsement of Palestine’s nomination dossier. The site is considered to possess outstanding universal value as unique evidence of the continuity of civilisations and cultures that have inhabited the area from the Iron Age through the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, and Ottoman eras. In its decision, the committee stated that Sebastia holds outstanding universal value because its archaeological and historical layers reflect the development of an urban, political, and religious centre over more than two millennia, thus meriting protection as World Heritage. The committee’s decision to place the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger was due to serious threats, including actions by the Israeli occupation, land seizure plans, projects aimed at altering the site’s historical and archaeological character, and restrictions affecting protection, management, and preservation efforts. The Ministry of Tourism welcomed the decision, describing it as a historic national achievement that reflects Palestine’s cultural significance and demonstrates its commitment to protecting cultural heritage in accordance with international standards despite the challenges posed by the Israeli occupation.