With all the destruction across Gaza, there's concern that the history of Palestinians is in danger of being erased. The archives in Gaza’s Department of Manuscripts are just one rich source of knowledge, with its archivist forced to flee to France.

Aix-en-Provence

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

Palestinian historian Abdel Latif Abu Hashim, formerly the director of Gaza's Department of Manuscripts, has relocated to southern France under a programme for at-risk academics. Forced to leave behind his archives, including 20,000 books, he was not permitted to take any data or digital records with him. The library he managed was bombed and is now under the control of Israeli authorities, leaving the fate of its collections uncertain.

Abu Hashim's expertise is now valued at a French university, but he faces the challenge of separation from his life's work and most of his family, who remain in Gaza. The ongoing conflict threatens not only lives but also the preservation of Palestinian history and identity, with efforts continuing to safeguard what remains.

Gaza's manuscripts face uncertain future

At a university in southern France, Palestinian historian Abdel Latif Abu Hashim works in exile, documenting Gaza's rich heritage. He left Rafa in April under a French programme for academics at risk. Israeli forces barred him from taking his archives. I left with only my phone, a few books and the clothes I'm wearing right now. I wasn't allowed to bring a computer or flash drive or anything that has data. The former director of Gaza's Department of Manuscripts, Abdel Latif lived in an apartment above the library he ran. It was bombed. He was forced to abandon everything, including 20,000 books. I fear for the library. I worked on it for 43 years and now it's under the control of the Israeli authorities. I don't know what's happened to it. For the university's Mediterranean Studies faculty, Abdel Latif's expertise is invaluable. Because of his immense knowledge of classical Arabic and Islamic sources, first of all. Also he specialises on the history of Gaza and its heritage. So this is a very good thing for the library because we will be able to enrich our collections and our knowledge. Being separated from the archives and his books in Gaza is hugely challenging for Abdel Latif. But being forced to leave behind some of his family is deeply painful. Abdel Latif's wife and son Mahmoud travelled to France with him. But his seven other children and dozens of grandchildren remain in Gaza. This is the twins of my brother. When I left Gaza, they stopped me and said to me, Uncle Mahmoud, we don't want to be killed. Before the war, Mahmoud was training to be a dentist. This is the world of injustice and people here are living a normal life. I feel happy about them but I could tell them, do you know what's happening in Gaza? Do you know what's happening to children in Gaza? Do you know what's happening to women in Gaza? Israel's war is destroying lives, homes, dreams and threatening to erase thousands of years of Palestinian history and identity. Abdel Latif is doing all that he can to preserve it. Natasha Butler, Al Jazeera, Aix-en-Provence.

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Preah Vihear Province

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Glasgow

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Washington

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Pangasinan

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Jerusalem

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Bangkok

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Ukraine Invasion

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Beijing

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London

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Surin

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Nashville

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Istanbul

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Kyiv

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California

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Gaza's manuscripts face uncertain future

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