A delegation from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities visited all the archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip, which have closed their doors to visitors since the emergency committee decided in late August.
The ministry stated in a press statement that this visit comes for follow-up after a break of more than a month to ensure the safety of the sites, and to study the resumption of restoration and development projects that were in place before the state of emergency, in case the field conditions in the sector improved.
Dr. Jamal Abu Raida, Director General of Antiquities at the Ministry, said that the Ministry is studying, in contact with international institutions that are financing the restoration projects, which were taking place at the sites of the Byzantine Church in Jabalia, and the site of St. Hilarion in the Central Region, partially resuming work on these projects while taking all safety and preventive measures adopted by them. Ministry of Health .
Abu Rida added that there are a number of restoration and preservation projects for the national heritage, which were to be implemented before the closure, and were suspended until new decisions were issued to return life in the Gaza Strip to normal, to be implemented.
Abu Rida indicated that the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in cooperation with several foreign institutions, implemented a number of projects to preserve the archaeological sites from vandalism and natural geographical factors during the last two years, amounting to approximately $ 2.5 million.