It might already be too late to safeguard the homes in Gaza, where countless individuals have cultivated a lifetime of memories. Whether it’s those from Ramallah who recall honeymoons by the Mediterranean or others with their own heartfelt stories, Gaza has touched many lives, including mine. In these unsettling times, my thoughts drift to the irreparable loss of cultural landmarks. Take, for example, the Great Omari Mosque, a significant piece of history since the seventh century, now bearing the scars of conflict with its minaret and structure partly ruined. Similarly, the ancient Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church narrowly dodged disaster when an Israeli missile struck but thankfully did not explode. The lack of urgency around their reconstruction starkly suggests a troubling disregard for the cultural heritage of the Palestinian people in Gaza, as if the preservation of their history is not something they deserve.
The recent announcement by Donald Trump seems like an extension of Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier policies seen over the past 16 months. Under Joe Biden, the U.S. supported Israel militarily, and now Trump has escalated to a proposal resembling ethnic cleansing. Palestinians are left without a sovereign land, perceived as disposable and stateless, devoid of roots or belonging. The sight of thousands returning to their wrecked homes in the north, even when knowing they faced devastation, demonstrates an unyielding connection to their homeland. Their swift return is a bold statement against relocation efforts they were subjected to.
It’s horrifying to even contemplate the potential erasure of the crimes committed in Gaza, as Trump’s concept of a “real estate deal” suggests. The agony of human rights losses, offices reduced to rubble, and years of documentation turned to dust is an all-too-painful reality. It’s profoundly unsettling that such drastic measures for ethnic cleansing can be floated by a major world leader.
For Netanyahu, achieving such an outcome would mean escaping the consequences of his policies, erasing a legacy of destruction. The old belief that Palestinian refugees would eventually be absorbed by neighboring countries dates back to David Ben-Gurion in 1948, but history proves otherwise. The possibility of expulsion now looms over those who took refuge in Gaza.
While the enforcement of Trump’s proposal appears doubtful, Israel’s control over Gaza’s borders poses a significant threat. Without U.S. backing for reconstruction efforts, Israel holds the potential to block funding and necessary materials from entering Gaza, perpetuating unbearable living conditions. The 2014 war left many parts of Gaza unrebuilt, laying the groundwork for continued conflicts.
Although the current conflict carries on without end, there’s a glaring absence of dialogue aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian tensions. I hoped that witnessing such widespread destruction might lead to a push for peace and mutual understanding, but reality suggests otherwise.
A global initiative to restore the Great Omari Mosque and Saint Porphyrius Church would send a strong message against treating Gaza as merely a real estate venture. Instead, a compassionate approach focusing on rebuilding these symbols of world heritage could mark the beginning of healing in Gaza. It would serve as a symbolic gesture of atonement for past injustices toward the people of Gaza and the broader world.
Raja Shehadeh is a respected Palestinian lawyer and writer and the founder of the human rights organization Al-Haq. He authored the book “What Does Israel Fear From Palestine?”
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