As part of this year’s RightsCon Summit, a session titled “Digital Resistance and Preservation: Safeguarding Palestinian Heritage Under Threat” was held to address the growing risks facing Palestinian cultural heritage, particularly in Gaza, in the context of ongoing conflict and displacement.
The session was co-organised by Bushra Ebadi (Lead Research Associate at UNU-EGOV), Sahdya Darr (Community Organizer and Writer), Yasmine Omari (Cultural Practitioner, Audio-Visual Artist, and Arts Educator), Saleem Zoughbi (Palestinian Cultural Fund and UNU-EGOV), Molly Gilmour (Cardiff University and University of Glasgow), and Cairsti Russell (University of Glasgow).
Discussions focused on the escalating destruction of heritage sites, archives, and institutions in Gaza, with particular concern for the implications of forced displacement on the continuity of Palestinian cultural memory. The session aimed to convene artists, activists, researchers, technologists, and cultural practitioners to explore the use of digital tools and collaborative strategies for preserving, protecting, and sustaining Palestinian heritage.
The dialogue included a focus on the role of online platforms in artistic collaboration, documentation, and archiving, as well as the challenges and opportunities digital transformation presents for cultural preservation. Emphasis was placed on community-driven approaches and the importance of centring Palestinian voices and perspectives.
Through this participation, Bushra shared ongoing work in developing methodologies to identify and verify digital cultural heritage. These efforts aim to contribute to broader strategies for cultural preservation and resilience, particularly in conflict-affected areas.
