‘It is an attempt by Israel to erase our heritage, but we will rebuild again’
Jomma Alzaem was still looking frantically for his rare antiques amid the rubble in Gaza’s Arts and Crafts Village yesterday, four days after it was severely damaged during Israeli air strikes.
Israel said the strikes across Gaza were against Hamas, the group that rules the isolated Palestinian territory. One strike hit an unfinished building right next to the village, where he owned a brass shop.
“I believe that Israel wanted to target the village, not the building,” Mr Alzaem, 67, told
The National. “They targeted Palestinian heritage, a heritage that they don’t own.
“I spent years collecting the brass. I had items about 100 years old. My shop was considered as a tourist attraction, and now all of the brass and relics are under rubble.”
The village was set up in 1998 in Alremal district west of Gaza city to display and protect Palestinian heritage.
Built from red clay with traditional design features, it contains four sections – embroidery, brass, wood and carpets – and has a hall for exhibitions and cultural events.
Now paintings and historical objects lie scattered on the ground, along with shards of pottery. Some shops are partly destroyed, the ceilings collapsed, walls cracked.
Inside the building, broken glass crunches beneath people’s feet.
Nihad Shaqlih, director of the village, said it was completely damaged by the Israeli strikes.
“The village contains archaeological items and brass hundreds of years old but all of it is under rubble,” Ms Shaqlih said.
“It is an attempt by the Israeli occupation to destroy and erase our heritage, but we will rebuild the village again to protect Palestinian history.”
One day after the Israeli attacks, a group of Palestinian artists began setting up a display of their work amid the rubble as protest.
“We want the Israeli occupation and local and international community to know that we will rebuild the village and we will keep producing great art,” Shareef Sarhan said.
“Targeting the village is targeting all the artists in Gaza. It was a place for them to gather. We will rebuild the village because it will be a victory for us and for our heritage.
Media graduate Marina Abu Saif, 24, said: “I used to come to this village to attend exhibitions and cultural lectures. It is considered one of Gaza’s main cultural centres, which are rare due to the current situation.
“To target the beautiful places in Gaza means there is a hidden hand trying to keep us youth from our heritage, but we will keep searching for our heritage and protect it from waste.”
Mr Alzaem said the village was better known 10 years ago, before Hamas took control of Gaza, but now “a lot of its activities are retreating”.
The centre comes under the authority of the municipality, which is controlled by Hamas. Gaza no longer has cultural venues such as cinemas and theatres and life in the territory has been badly hit by the blockade imposed by Israel after Hamas came to power.
Mr Alzaem fears he will have a hard time reopening his shop.
“It will be so difficult now for me to rebuild and collect artefacts again. Because the economic situation in Gaza is so bad, I need an indemnity so I can reopen my shop,” he said.
“When I went to the municipality for help they told me that only they can make recommendations for aid. When I went to the Economy Ministry they asked me to give them a missing list. I did it, but I don’t know if they can help.”
To target the beautiful places in Gaza means there is a hidden hand trying to keep us youth from our heritage MARINA ABU SAIF Media graduate