UNESCO adds West Bank site and Lebanese castles to endangered heritage list

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has added the town of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank and five historic Lebanese castles to its emergency list of heritage sites at risk, citing imminent threats from ongoing conflicts and neglect. The decision follows a series of reports that the structures have suffered damage from military activity, vandalism, and lack of maintenance, and that local authorities have not taken sufficient protective measures.

Sebastia, a site of archaeological significance dating back to the Roman and Ottoman periods, has been repeatedly targeted in the region’s escalating tensions, leading to structural deterioration and loss of artifacts. The Lebanese castles—among them the 12th‑century Krak des Chevaliers and the 14th‑century Qalaat al-Maamoun—have faced similar pressures from regional instability and insufficient conservation funding. ICOMOS called on national governments and international partners to mobilize resources and enforce protective legislation, warning that without intervention the sites could be irreversibly damaged.

The emergency listing underscores the urgent need for coordinated preservation efforts amid the broader conflict. While the Israeli government has expressed objections, citing security concerns and sovereignty issues, the international community remains focused on safeguarding cultural heritage as a vital component of peace and historical continuity.