Qasr al-Basha in the Gaza Strip lies in ruins following 'Israeli' strikes.
‘Israel’ stole over 17,000 artifacts from historic Gaza museum: reports
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- Palestinian officials said ‘Israeli’ forces stole over 17,000 archaeological artifacts from the Al-Basha Palace Museum in Gaza City.
- The Mamluk-era museum was bombed and bulldozed by ‘Israeli’ forces, with only 20 items recovered from the ruins.
Palestinian officials said ‘Israeli’ forces stole over 17,000 archaeological artifacts from the Al-Basha Palace Museum (Qasr al-Basha) in Gaza City during the two-year-long assault.
Hamouda al-Dahdar, the supervisor of the archaeological restoration of Al-Basha Palace said that the museum contained more than 17,000 items, primarily from the Mamluk era, before their disappearance, according to Palestinian sources.
He attributed the theft primarily to ‘Israeli’ forces, noting that only 20 artifacts recovered from the site's rubble
Al-Dahdar confirmed that the museum previously housed more than 17,000 artifacts , primarily dating back to the Mamluk, Ottoman, Byzantine, and Roman eras, as well as pre-historic periods.
Qasr Al-Basha
The Al-Basha Palace, also known as Pasha's Palace or Qasr al-Basha, is a 13th-century Mamluk-era structure that functioned as a fortress, governor's residence, and later a museum displaying Gaza's archaeological heritage, including pottery, coins, and relics across centuries.
‘Israeli’ forces bombed the site in December 2023 and subsequently bulldozed it, reducing it to ruins.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, ‘Israeli’ forces have destroyed hundreds of archaeological locations in Gaza to erase Palestinian identity and historical legacy.
