Geneva hosts exhibition showcasing Gaza’s cultural legacy amid ongoing crises

Under the theme “Heritage at Risk,” the Geneva Museum of Art and History is hosting an exhibition featuring 44 artifacts from Gaza, highlighting the cultural identity of a region devastated by war.

Running from October 5 to February 9, the exhibition offers a glimpse into Gaza’s rich history through items such as small statues, jars, tombstones, and oil lamps, representing daily, civic, and religious life across centuries.

Curator Beatrice Blandin emphasized the importance of these artifacts in showcasing Gaza’s heritage, which has been affected by ongoing conflicts.

The exhibition is part of a larger collection of over 530 pieces preserved since 2007 in Geneva, originally owned by the Palestinian Authority and businessman Jawdat Khoudari.

It also serves as a reminder of the responsibility to protect cultural heritage, as many sites in Gaza have suffered damage during the recent Israeli war, with UNESCO documenting 69 affected cultural locations.

Despite challenges, Geneva authorities reiterated their commitment to safeguarding and eventually returning these artifacts to Gaza under a new cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Authority.