Rabat: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek met with the Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Salim Al-Malik, to discuss cooperation in protecting Palestinian cultural heritage. The meeting took place during the international conference 'Managing Cultural Heritage in Times of Conflict and Post-Recovery' in Rabat.
According to Palestine news and Information Agency - WAFA, Al-Hayek emphasized the importance of joint efforts between Palestine and ICESCO to safeguard Palestinian archaeological sites amidst challenging circumstances. He highlighted the need to restore archaeological and historical sites in the Gaza Strip, which have been damaged due to ongoing Israeli aggression. Al-Hayek stressed that Gaza hosts globally significant archaeological sites that require serious restoration initiatives.
Al-Malik underscored the historical ties between ICESCO and Palestine, expressing the organization's commitment to support the preservation of tangible cultural heritage in Palestine. The meeting also focused on restoration training, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and the possibility of establishing a permanent exhibition at ICESCO titled 'Gaza 5,000 Years.'
It was agreed that ICESCO would reach out to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Azerbaijan to assist in restoring damaged sites in Gaza. The discussions further involved organizing specialized training programs and workshops on cultural heritage preservation. They also planned to launch capacity-building initiatives for experts and heritage custodians in Palestine and sign a memorandum of understanding to outline a cooperation framework for joint programs and projects aimed at preserving cultural heritage.