UNESCO Adds Ancient Sebastia and Mount Amel Castles to World Heritage List Amid Conflict
During the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea, UNESCO added the ancient city of Sebastia in Palestine and the five castles of Mount Amel in Lebanon to both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. This resolution was reached despite objections from Israel and aims to safeguard sites endangered by ongoing conflicts, including the war in Gaza. Sebastia, located near Nablus, features archaeological layers that date back almost three millennia and is linked to the burial of John the Baptist. The Palestinian application, submitted in 2012, gained significance due to an Israeli expropriation initiative. Additionally, Tyre was placed on the Danger List following Israeli bombings, with 164 sites in Gaza reported damaged as of March 24, 2026, since October 7, 2023.
Key facts
- UNESCO inscribed Sebastia and Mount Amel castles on World Heritage List and Danger List at 48th session in Busan.
- Sebastia is an ancient city in the occupied West Bank with 3,000 years of history.
- Mount Amel castles include Beaufort Castle, a well-preserved medieval fortress.
- Israel objected to the listings, accusing Palestine and Lebanon of politicizing heritage.
- UNESCO cited planned Israeli expropriation of 1,800 dunams for a national park as a threat to Sebastia.
- Tyre, Lebanon, was added to the Danger List due to Israeli bombings.
- UNESCO verified damage to 164 sites in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
- The inscriptions were made under emergency procedure due to ongoing conflicts.
Entities
Institutions
- UNESCO
- World Heritage Committee
- Hezbollah
- Palestinian National Authority
- exibart.es
Locations
- Busan
- South Korea
- Sebastia
- State of Palestine
- West Bank
- Nablus
- Mount Amel
- Lebanon
- Beaufort Castle
- Qalaat al-Shaqif
- Tyre
- Gaza
- Israel