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Alia camel: symbol of Jordan's heritage, resilience

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

Camelids play a vital role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals related to the fight against hunger, the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of women, and the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (Photos courtesy of Nizar Haddad)

AMMAN — The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024). 

Camels, llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos are an important source of livelihood for millions of families in deserts and mountainous rangelands around the world. 

Camelids play a vital role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals related to the fight against hunger, the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of women, and the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. From providing milk, meat, fiber, and organic fertiliser to transporting products and people, camelids thrive where other livestock species cannot survive.

Jordan

In celebration of camels and Bedouin communities in Jordan, the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), under the patronage of Nizar Haddad (Researcher and former Director General of NARC), and in partnership with Nico Dingemans (founder of From Farm to Fork in Jordan) and Sami Allawama (founder of Camelera camel milk products), organised Ships of the Desert in May 2024 in Wadi Rum, the first IYC event in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Haddad also led the scientific research The Alia Camel of Jordan: a genetically distinct dromedary breed, which will be published soon, demonstrating that the Alia camels are genetically distinct and deserve preservation. 

Mohammed Araishi, camel expert at NARC and the Livestock Research Directorate, played a key role in this project.

In October 2024, Dingemans and Allawama organised a second camelids event in partnership with FAO Jordan in Amman. 

In part one of this two-part article, Dingemans delves into the socioeconomic and gastronomic significance of camels and camel products, such as milk, cheese varieties, and meat, with contributions from Allawama, while part two (this article) explores the results of scientific and heritage research by Haddad, Araishi, and the research team. 

 

A unique breed in the heart of Jordan

 

Among the diverse types of dromedaries, the Alia camel (locally known as “Jamal Alia”) is a genetically distinct breed found primarily in the arid landscapes of Wadi Araba in the south, and the Jordan Valley in the east. 

It captured the attention of scientists and cultural enthusiasts alike as recent advanced genomic research identified its’ genetic uniqueness due to the exceptional endurance, high milk production, and adaptability to Jordan’s diverse environments.

Beyond its biological importance, the Alia camel holds a “special” place in Jordanian culture and history, symbolising resilience, and ingenuity.

 

Heritage written in stone

 

The Alia camel has been a part of Jordan’s history since ancient times, dating back to the Nabataean civilisation. 

Archaeological findings in Petra, including ancient carvings of camels in the Siq, reflect the essential role of camels as indispensable companions for trade and transportation across the Arabian Peninsula. 

Oral traditions attribute the Alia camel’s lineage to the camels of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, further elevating its cultural importance among Jordanian Bedouins.

In Jordan’s Eastern Desert, rock art further depicts the enduring relationship between camels and Indigenous people of the region. These carvings, etched into the sandstone by early inhabitants, serve as a testament to the camel’s importance in daily life and survival, and its’ cultural significance is embedded in folklore and identity, social practices and artistic representation.

 

Collaborative research and discovery

 

The “groundbreaking” research was made possible through the collaboration of several esteemed institutions, including NARC, the University of Jordan, and Victory Genomics. 

The Alia camel project I initiated as Haddad was supported by the National Centre for Research and Development of the Higher Council for Science and Technology of Jordan, following his prior genetic studies of local Awassi sheep, historical Mehras olive trees, and indigenous honeybee populations, showcasing Jordan’s rich agricultural biodiversity.

 

Why Alia camel stands out

 

The study leveraged whole-genome sequencing (WGS), confirming that the Alia camel is genetically distinct from other dromedaries in the Arabian Peninsula. Its’ phenotypic characteristics show remarkable traits, such as endurance and speed, high milk yield, adaptability and genetic distinction.

This genetic distinctiveness is not due to geographical isolation but rather careful breeding practices in Jordan and the Alia camel’s genetic diversity is comparable to or greater than other camel populations, emphasising its biological significance.

 

Challenges, call for conservation

 

Despite its resilience, the Alia camel faces numerous challenges, including habitat loss, modernisation, and a lack of formal recognition as a distinct breed. Conservation efforts are essential to preserving its legacy.

Conservation matters due to several aspects related to cultural preservation, economic value, biodiversity.

To ensure its survival, several steps must be taken, including official breed recognition, expanded research and monitoring, sustainable breeding, research expansion and public awareness.

Cabinet approves amendments to real estate law, says they ease land ownership procedures

Gov't advances investment reforms, smart transport, water security

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

  • Agriculture projects endorsed, agreements reached with China and Morocco

AMMAN — The Cabinet, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, endorsed on Sunday draft amendments to the 2025 Real Estate Ownership Law to streamline land registration procedures and facilitate the dissolution of joint ownership.

The amendments grant expanded authority to the Department of Lands and Survey, enabling it to deliver faster, more efficient services and reduce bureaucratic hurdles, according to a Prime Ministry statement.

The amended bill introduces mechanisms to regulate joint ownership dissolution committees and provides guidelines for determining fair compensation in cases of public expropriation. It also addresses existing legal gaps by allowing companies, non-Jordanians, and legal entities to acquire property in specific unincorporated areas, which was previously restricted.

Under the new framework, legal entities engaged in lease financing will be able to obtain property permits directly from the Department of Lands and the Ministry of Finance, eliminating the need for Cabinet approval. The move aims to streamline procedures and enhance investor access to Jordan’s property market.

In the transport sector, the Cabinet reviewed the regulatory framework governing smart transport applications. Emphasising the importance of competitiveness and service quality, the Council of Ministers directed the Land Transport Regulatory Commission (LTRC) to electronically integrate its systems with ride-hailing platforms and update licensing conditions.

New requirements will be introduced to ensure vehicle safety and enhance complaint resolution mechanisms. The government is also considering allowing ride-hailing drivers not currently enrolled in social security to opt in voluntarily, the statement said.

 

To support the agricultural sector, the Cabinet approved three new cooperation projects with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The initiatives focus on building farmer capacity, expanding access to markets, and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices.

One project will promote sustainable agriculture and youth employment, while another will focus on preserving native plant species. A third will improve farmers’ access to green financing, with particular emphasis on empowering rural communities and closing gender and youth financing gaps.

Additionally, the Cabinet ratified a protocol with China on the export of processed sheepskins and signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Global Farmers' Association to boost development cooperation for Jordanian farmers.

In the water sector, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with Morocco to exchange expertise in water infrastructure and management. Areas of cooperation include desalination, rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse, and drought mitigation strategies.

The Cabinet also approved a formal commitment document for the Aqaba-Amman Desalination and Conveyance Project, Jordan’s largest water infrastructure initiative. Once operational, the National Carrier Project is expected to deliver 300 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually, significantly bolstering the Kingdom’s water security.

On the international cooperation front, the Cabinet endorsed several agreements, including a memorandum with Qatar to enhance cooperation in social development. The agreement addresses child welfare, women’s rights, elderly care, and services for persons with disabilities.

The Cabinet also approved several senior appointments. Mazen Shahadeh Abu Baqr was named Secretary General of the Ministry of Youth, Riyad Kharabsheh was appointed Director General of the Land Transport Regulatory Commission, and Ibrahim Rawashdeh was selected to head the National Agricultural Research Centre. All three candidates earned the highest scores in the 2024 Government Leadership Selection System.

Agricultural sector undergoes ‘unprecedented transformation’ in 2024 - minister

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

Minister of Agriculture Khaled Huneifat says that Jordan’s agricultural sector recorded "robust growth" in 2024, expanding by 6.9 per cent compared with 5.8 per cent in 2023 (Petra photo)

AMMAN — Jordan’s agricultural sector recorded "robust growth" in 2024, expanding by 6.9 per cent compared with 5.8 per cent in 2023, according to Minister of Agriculture  Khaled Huneifat. 

Agricultural exports reached JD426 million, marking a 39 per cent increase, including a 14 per cent rise in export volume, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Huneifat said the sector has undergone an unprecedented transformation that goes beyond production and exports, contributing directly to national food security, sustainable development, social equity, and environmental protection.

Emphasising the sector’s role in employment generation and social stability, Huneifat noted that the ministry has enhanced its institutional capacity by hiring 600 agricultural engineers and veterinarians and expanding its loan portfolio to JD115 million. The funds target high-impact projects such as hydroponics, food processing, and rural women's empowerment, he added.

The ministry has also signed 20 agreements with investors to absorb surplus production, increase foreign currency inflows and expand e-marketing platforms for agricultural products.

"Jordan is also launching a 10-year initiative to plant 10 million trees using innovative techniques such as the "cocoon" system and non-potable water in the south, and rainwater harvesting in the north," he added. 

"The ministry is building 50 reservoirs and 5,000 wells annually and allocating JD65 million to climate adaptation projects, JD31 million of which will be disbursed as interest-free loans."

The Jordanian-Palestinian Agricultural Marketing Company has reopened access to 16 European markets and established a specialised training institute to strengthen cross-border agricultural cooperation. The ministry has also issued a new law on cooperatives and launched advanced training centres for smart agriculture in the Jordan Valley, as well as northern and southern regions, benefiting some 15,000 trainees.

Huneifat reported that 61 per cent of Jordan’s food is now produced locally. Self-sufficiency in red meat has increased from 28 per cent to 45 per cent over the past four years, with over 900,000 sheep,  754,000 live and 150,000 slaughtered, exported to Gulf countries.

He also highlighted reforms in the fodder market, where JD100 million in government subsidies have been better targeted through the implementation of electronic livestock tagging and land ownership verification mechanisms to ensure support reaches eligible farmers.

The minister also stressed that these achievements have been made possible through strong public-private partnerships, supported by flexible policies and high-level political will, turning Jordan’s agricultural sector into a regional model for development, food security, and climate resilience.

 

Gov't endorses projects to support sustainable agriculture, empower farmers, tackle climate challenges

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

The Cabinet on Sunday approves two key development projects in an effort to bolster Jordan’s agricultural sector and support farmers amid mounting market challenges (JT file)

AMMAN — In an effort to bolster Jordan’s agricultural sector and support farmers amid mounting market challenges, the Cabinet on Sunday approved two key development projects during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan.

The first project, titled “Strengthening the Agricultural Sector in Jordan through Capacity Development and Market Access,” is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Agriculture and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It aims to enhance farmers’ skills through sustainable agricultural practices and increase their access to local and regional markets, particularly via agricultural exhibitions.

The project also focuses on providing farmers with the tools needed to improve yields and adopt environmentally friendly farming methods.

The Cabinet also endorsed a second agreement between the Agricultural Credit Corporation and the World Food Programme (WFP) under the 2025–2027 Jordan Country Strategic Plan. The initiative, “Enhancing Access to Climate-Resilient Agricultural Finance,” seeks to expand access to agricultural financing and promote climate-smart farming techniques.

“These projects represent a critical step toward addressing structural challenges in the sector, especially by improving financial access and market integration,” said Nuhad Olaimi, President of the Agricultural Engineers Association. 

“Stronger partnerships with the private sector and international organisations will open new opportunities for Jordanian farmers to grow and adapt in a changing climate.”

Nour Manaseer, a sustainable agriculture expert, highlighted the projects’ long-term economic impact, noting that expanding market access and financing mechanisms would boost productivity and rural resilience.

“Such programmes can enhance rural economic inclusion and provide income stability for farmers, particularly in light of increasing climate variability,” she said.

Awqaf minister attends 46th Amman Message conference

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Khalaileh on Sunday attends the opening of the 46th Scientific Forum on the Amman Message (Petra photo)

AMMAN — Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Khalaileh on Sunday attended the opening of the 46th Scientific Forum on the Amman Message, held by the King Abdullah II Institute for the Training and Qualification of Preachers, with the participation of scholars and intellectuals from 40 countries.

Khalaileh reiterated that the Amman Message, launched by His Majesty King Abdullah in 2004, represents the core values of moderate Islam, advocating tolerance, the alleviation of hardship, and the promotion of both religious and worldly interests, describing it as a universal humanitarian and ethical charter for peaceful coexistence.

Speaking on behalf of the participating countries, Dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law at Aladdin Islamic University in Indonesia Abdul Raouf Amin commended the Amman Message as a unifying voice in a world facing ideological fragmentation and growing confusion,  according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Director of the Institute Abdul Sattar Qudah said the Amman Message was formulated to counter international efforts aimed at distorting Islamic teachings. He cautioned against the rise of extremism that misuses religious texts to justify violence, displacement, and attacks on sacred sites.

In a recorded address, Director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre Father Nabil Haddad, highlighted Jordan’s leading role in promoting interfaith understanding and combating hatred. He cited key initiatives such as "A Common Word", "World Interfaith Harmony Week", and the "Amman Message" as critical tools in the global fight against extremism and terrorism.

'306,000 mobile phones imported in Q1 2025 amid rising global prices'

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

The Association of Mobiles and Accessories Investors (Vision) says that Jordan imported 306,000 mobile phones in the first quarter of 2025 (Petra photo)

AMMAN — Jordan imported 306,000 mobile phones in the first quarter of 2025, with a total value of JD38.6 million, according to a statement issued Sunday by the Association of Mobiles and Accessories Investors (Vision).

Despite the nearly unchanged value compared with the JD38.4 million recorded during the same period in 2024, the volume of imports dropped significantly from 450,000 units last year, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

President of the Association Ahmad Alloush attributed the decline in quantity to rising global mobile phone prices observed at the beginning of the year.

He noted that the average price of a smartphone in early 2025 reached approximately $830 in the US, $900 in South Korea, and $560 in China.

Alloush explained that variations in consumer demand account for the pricing differences, with high-end smartphones dominating sales in markets like the US and South Korea, while mid-range and budget models remain more prevalent in China.

Christians celebrate Palm Sunday

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

Jordanian Christians across the Kingdom mark Palm Sunday with services and processions to commemorate Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem (Petra photo)

AMMAN — Jordanian Christians across the Kingdom marked Palm Sunday with services and processions to commemorate Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem, a week before Easter and the end of Lent, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The Kingdom’s churches were filled with masses and festive ceremonies, during which worshippers raised olive branches, palm fronds and candles, singing Easter-specific hymns.

Cassation Court upholds over 3-year sentence for drug dealer

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

AMMAN — The Court of Cassation has upheld a January State Security Court (SSC) ruling sentencing a drug dealer to three years in prison after convicting him of possessing illegal narcotics in Amman in January 2023.

The court declared the defendant guilty of possessing illegal narcotics while attempting to sell them to an undercover agent on January 17

The SSC handed the defendant a punishment of three years in prison and ordered him to pay JD3,000 in fines.

Court documents said the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) learnt the defendant was selling illegal drugs in the local market and assigned an agent to buy a small stash of Hashish from him.

“The AND agents offered JD5 for a small stash of Hashish,” court documents said.

When the two met, according to the court papers, police officers arrested the defendant

The defendant contested the SSC’s ruling through his lawyer, who argued that the court “did not provide solid evidence to implicate his client in illicit drug trafficking”.

Meanwhile, the SSC prosecution office asked the higher court to uphold the sentence and the fine imposed on the defendant.

The higher court maintained that the SSC had followed the proper procedures in issuing the sentences against the defendant.

“It was clear to the court that the defendant confessed willingly to possessing the illegal drugs to sell it in the local market,” the higher court said.

Therefore, the higher court maintained that the defendant deserves the punishment he received.

The Cassation Court bench comprised judges Yassin Abdullat, Hammad Ghzawi, Qassem Dughmi, Mohammad Khashashneh and Nayef Samarat.

 

King inaugurates new Public Security Officers Club

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

His Majesty King Abdullah, Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, inaugurates on Sunday the new Public Security Officers Club in Ghamadan. His Majesty expresses pride in the Public Security Directorate and his appreciation of its dedicated personnel and their role in safeguarding the nation and upholding the rule of law (Photo courtesy of Royal Court)

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, inaugurated on Sunday the new Public Security Officers Club in Ghamadan.

During a meeting with Public Security Directorate (PSD) Director Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Maaytah and a number of PSD directors and leaders, His Majesty expressed pride in the PSD and its personnel and their efforts to maintain national security and uphold the rule of law, according to a Royal Court statement.

The King listened to a briefing about the work of the various PSD departments and units, and their development and modernisation plans.

His Majesty emphasised the importance of continuing to advance the work of the PSD through integrated plans for all departments, the statement said.

For his part, Maaytah affirmed the PSD’s commitment to continued progress, modernisation and growth in order to effectively, efficiently and professionally face challenges, assume security and humanitarian responsibilities, ensure fair and bias-free law enforcement, and carry out all duties to the best of their abilities.

Maaytah added that the new club is part of the PSD’s efforts to upgrade and enhance the services provided to its personnel.

At the new Public Security Officers Club, the King listened to a briefing by the Director of Public Security about the club and the cultural, social and sports services it provides to active and retired officers and their families.

The Ghamadan-based club is the fourth Public Security club, and includes hotel rooms, halls for seminars, workshops and celebrations, in addition to sports and health facilities.

In the club courtyard, His Majesty also inspected the PSD’s newest vehicles, including firefighting and ambulance bikes, which have been equipped with the latest technology, and modified to suit the requirements of security, intelligence and emergency response teams, the statement said.

Gaza's cultural heritage under threat amid ongoing conflict

By - Apr 13,2025 - Last updated at Apr 13,2025

This photo taken on January 5, shows Gaza City's Omari Mosque, the oldest mosque in Gaza, damaged in Israeli relentless bombardment (AFP photo)

AMMAN — The ongoing war in Gaza, which started in October 2023, is the last phase of a long process of “eradicating Palestinian physical presence” in the Gaza Strip as well as erasing the Arab historical monuments, archaeological sites and sacral architecture. 

Gaza has been populated since the Bronze Age and it was an important commercial hub on a trade route that went from the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean. The Gaza Port connected southern Europe and Greco-Roman world with the incense trade from Hijaz.

Meanwhile, an exhibition opened last week at Paris’s Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) that showcases a glimpse of Gaza’s archaeological heritage against the relentless warfare and destruction in the region. 

The event titled, “Rescued Treasures of Gaza: 5,000 Years of History,” will conclude on November 2, and it features over 130 objects that attest to the rich and complex history of Gaza as a crossroads of culture and commerce between Asia, Africa and Europe.

The density and distribution of its archaeological sites surveyed in 1944 at the end of the British Mandate and updated by the Palestinian Department of Antiquities in 2019 is eloquent .

A total of 130 sites to which should be added the remains of ancient cities and towns within the cities of Gaza, Khan Yunis, Dair Al Balah, Rafah and Bait Hanun, in tens of villages and in eight Palestinian refugee camps, noted a British-affiliated archaeologist Claudine Dauphin.

 

Bronze and Iron ages

 

Near the Wadi Gaza ford on the ancient coastal road linking Palestine and Egypt since the Bronze Age, the Way of Horus ancestor of the Roman Via Maris, lie two major Bronze Age sites. 

"Rescued from developers in 1997 and excavated by Pierre de Miroschedji on behalf of the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique [CNRS], Tel as-Sakan [3,400-2,350 BC] offered a 10m high stratigraphic section covering1000 years of the Early Bronze Age and urban development under Ancient Egyptian impetus," Dauphin explained.

The archaeologist added that excavated by the British Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie (1925-1942) in 1930-1934, Tel El Ajlun (1,900-1,200 BC) yielded in several Bronze Age buildings, including the "Palace", five large deposits of gold jewellery (1,750-1,550 BC) ranking amongst the greatest Bronze Age finds in the Levant, now in the British Museum and the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem. 

 

In 1990 Professor Louise Steel of the University of Wales, Trinity St David's, Lampeter sifted through the previously excavated soil, unearthing dozens of foundation cones stamped with the cartouche of Pharaoh Thutmosis III (1,481-1,425 BC). 

Excavations were resumed by a University of Gothenburg Swedish Mission directed by Peter Fisher in collaboration with Moain Sadeq of the Palestine Department of Antiquities in 1999 and 2000 focusing on Late Bronze Age levels, Dauphin underlined.

 

"Thus, from the 4th millenium BC ties were established with Egypt before it took Southern Palestine in the Early Bronze Age and ruled over the Egyptian Province of Canaan in the Late Bronze Age. Mentioned as 'Hazattu' in an Egyptian text dated to the reign of Pharaoh Thutmosis III [1,484-1,421 BC], Gaza itself was probably founded in the 3rd millenium BC," Dauphin elaborated.

The archaeologist noted that its region was overseen by a pharaonic Egyptian agent, but the city itself was a kingdom whose ruler pledgd allegiance to the pharaoh. 

 

Spectacular and also the earliest (Late Bronze to Early Iron Age, 13th-11th centuries BC) of that particular category of ancient coffins, were 50 anthropoid clay coffins found in 1973 in the excavations of a cemetery south of Dair Al Balah under Israeli occupation (1967-2005). 

Coil-built in local clay, the naturalistic face lids were moulded in relief displaying large Egyptian features- almond shaped eyes, arched eyebrows, straight noses and full lips, Dauphin said, noting that arms are often thin and stick like, crossed or holding objects such as lotus blossoms. 

 

Grotesque style coffins have eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, ears and beard that have been applied separately to the leather-hard clay, this being associated with the construction practices of the Philistines, the scholar underlined, adding that from the dates associated with the finds, it appears that the coffins originated with Egyptian influences in Canaan and were subsequently adopted by the Philistines. 

 

"These burials were typically associated with a large variety of expensive grave offerings: Cypriot, Cananite, Egyptian, Mycenaean and Philistine pottery storage jars, pithoi and cooking pots outside the coffin and smaller, higher quality Cypriot milk bowls, Egyptian alabaster cups, pilgrim flasks and juglets. flasks and juglets inside," Dauphin highlighted. 

 

 

The endangering of Gaza's cultural eritage 

 

The cultural heritage of the Gaza Strip has been endangered both indirectly and directly continuously since the creation of Israel in 1948. 

It increased significantly during the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip (1967-2005) ; the June 2006 Israeli air raids and incursions in retaliations from 2008 until now. A danger to the cultural heritage of Gaza has been both indirect and direct. 

Indirect danger

Demographic growth in the Gaza Strip has led to the destruction of archaeological sites by bulldozers preparing the ground for building new homes for the growing population, widening main thoroughfares and providing sports ground for children and youths to evacuate stress, Dauphin said.

The archaeologist noted that, the damage inflicted from the air by Israeli bombs on a sports field at Mukheitin in the Northern Gaza Strip damaged a Byzantine ecclesiastical complex uder the surface revealed revealed a small church.

"In the course of three excavation seasons [1998-2002], a three-aisled church, an offertory chapel, and a four-room building with a baptistery were uncovered. A 450 m2 mosaic pavement was restored by the Musée de l'Arles Antique [Museum of the Antique city of Arles in Provence]," the scholar said.

The archaeologist added that 17 Greek inscriptions from the 5th to the mid-8th century AD enabled the identification of this site with a funerary complex for a wealthy Christian family of Gaza. At Abu Baraqeh, the widening in 1999 of the coastal road in Dair Al Balaq revealed a small church on the shore. 

Its pavement was lifted by mosaic-restoration experts of the Museum of Arles in Provence and restored in France, the archaeologist added. 

Direct Danger

Direct danger is posed both by carpet-bombing and targeting. It is clear from the successive lists of destroyed cultural sites produced by UNESCO that IDF pilots have a predilection for targeting and deliberately target, which is more effective in radically destroying, as emphasised by Hamdan Taha, the founder of the Palestinian Department of Antiquities. 

"Since the start of the 2023-24 war on Gaza, Palestinian cultural heritage has undergone widespread destruction from Israeli targeting of ancient sites, historical and religious buildings, museums, cultural and academic buildings, public buildings, and infrastructure,” Taha said. 

“More than 100 archaeological sites, 256 historical buildings, many museums, hospitals, libraries, cemeteries, and over 100,000 archaeological objects, were destroyed" ["Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Gaza", Jerusalem Quarterly 97, Spring 2024, 45-70]," Taha elaborated. 

Further damage leading to total eradication is caused by demolition, the movements of military vehicles and the installation of pumps, as at Anthedon (Tel Blakhiyyah) which had been listed on 2nd April 2012 as a tentative World Heritage Site, Dauphin concluded.

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