RAMALLAH, September 2, 2026 (WAFA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned on Wednesday the excavation and bulldozing works carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities at Palestinian archaeological site of Sebastia, north of Nablus, including bringing heavy machinery into the area surrounding the Roman amphitheater, tampering with and excavating the site, stealing its antiquities, and placing signs bearing the name "Samaria Park" at the archaeological site.

The Ministry said the works constitute a flagrant violation of international law and an attempt to annex the occupied West Bank and impose colonial facts on one of the most important and historic Palestinian World Heritage sites at risk.

It warned of the serious threats facing the town of Sebastia, particularly following its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, underscoring the urgent need to protect it from the threats and violations.

The Ministry stressed that such actions violate the obligations of the occupying power under international humanitarian law, which requires the protection of cultural property and prohibits harming it or using it to serve the purposes of occupation.

It noted that the actions run counter to the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

It affirmed that the looting, destruction or alteration of Palestinian antiquities and their historical significance constitutes a violation of UNESCO conventions and international law, targets Palestinian presence and world heritage, and seeks to control the site and erase its historical identity.

The Ministry called on UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee, UN organizations and the international community to take urgent action to halt the excavation, bulldozing, tampering with and theft of antiquities, ensure the protection of the site and preserve its authenticity and integrity, and prevent the implementation of any projects that could undermine its outstanding universal value.

It also called for concrete measures to halt the looting of Palestinian cultural heritage and hold the occupation accountable for its violations, stressing that protecting Palestinian heritage requires effective measures on the ground, an end to the colonial occupation, and enabling the State of Palestine to exercise sovereignty over its land, resources and heritage.

A.D./ K.F.