15/05/2026
Statement Issued by the Society for Palestinian Archaeology
On the Anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba
15 May 1948 – 15 May 2026
The Society for Palestinian Archaeology commemorates the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, whose tragic events began on 15 May 1948 and constituted one of the greatest humanitarian and cultural catastrophes in modern history. During the Nakba, the Palestinian people were forcibly displaced from their land, hundreds of Palestinian villages and cities were destroyed, and millions were deprived of their natural right to return to their homes.
The consequences of the Nakba extended to Palestinian cultural heritage in all its forms. Numerous archaeological and historical sites were subjected to destruction, alteration, and erasure as part of systematic attempts to target the national identity and historical memory of the Palestinian people. Palestine also lost an important part of its architectural, cultural, and social archive due to policies of confiscation, uprooting, and displacement.
The Society for Palestinian Archaeology affirms that the protection of Palestinian cultural heritage is a national, moral, and humanitarian responsibility. Preserving archaeological and heritage sites represents a defense of the Palestinian historical narrative and the continuous civilizational presence of the Palestinian people on their land.
The Society also calls upon international academic, cultural, and human rights institutions to fulfill their responsibilities toward protecting Palestinian cultural heritage and to work toward stopping the violations against archaeological and historical sites, especially in light of the ongoing attacks against both people and heritage in Palestine.
On this anniversary, we renew our affirmation that the Palestinian people will remain committed to their legitimate historical and national rights, foremost among them the right of return, and to preserving Palestinian national identity and cultural heritage for future generations.
Mercy to the martyrs, and freedom for Palestine.
Society for Palestinian Archaeology
15 May 2026