The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has released its first public statement on the Israel-Palestine war.
In a statement on its website, ICOM expressed its “deep concern about the current violence affecting Israeli and Palestinian civilians” and said it “deplores the significant humanitarian consequences that the conflict has had over the past weeks”.
The UNESCO-affiliated organisation said it extends its “sincerest condolences to those who have lost family, friends, and community due to the violence”.
ICOM said it remains committed to preserving cultural heritage and “recalls the imperative of all parties to respect international law and conventions, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two protocols”.
Also, ICOM warned against “the potential increase in the smuggling and destruction of cultural objects due to the conflict in the affected region and recalls international legal obligations that work to prevent the illicit import, export, and transfer of cultural property”.
ICOM’s statement concluded: “ICOM thus expects an immediate ceasefire in respect of international humanitarian law in order to prevent further loss of human life and safeguard cultural heritage – which is essential to our collective humanity – and reaffirms its commitment to the principles of peace, understanding, and unity through the preservation and protection of cultural heritage.”
“ICOM thus expects an immediate ceasefire”
The ICOM announcement comes three weeks after Hamas led an attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 Israelis. The Israel military says more than 220 soldiers and civilians were taken to Gaza as hostages. Several have since been released (via BBC).
In response, the Israel military launched air and artillery strikes that have killed more than 6,500 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s health ministry (via Al Jazeera). Israel has also cut off food, water and electricity for Gaza.
Last week, an open letter signed by museum directors in Israel called on ICOM to condemn the 7 October Hamas attack “with the utmost fervour”.
