Deep Dive: Gazan volunteers salvage ancient books from oldest library in Palestinian territories

From the geopolitical lens, this act of salvaging ancient books occurs amid the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict, where Gaza has been a focal point of military operations, destruction, and humanitarian crises since the 2007 Hamas takeover and subsequent blockades. The library in the mosque, described as one of the oldest in the Palestinian territories, represents a thread of continuity in a region marked by repeated wars, including escalations in 2008-09, 2012, 2014, 2021, and the ongoing post-October 2023 hostilities. Key actors include local Gazan volunteers embodying grassroots resilience, contrasted with broader stakeholders like Israel (seeking security against militant groups), Hamas (governing Gaza with Islamist ideology), and international bodies such as UNESCO (mandated to protect world heritage but hampered by access restrictions). Strategic interests converge on cultural preservation as soft power: Palestinians assert historical legitimacy tied to Islamic and pre-Islamic heritage, while destruction of sites fuels narratives of cultural erasure. The international affairs perspective reveals cross-border ripples, as Gaza's plight draws involvement from Qatar (funding reconstruction), Egypt (border control and mediation), Turkey (Hamas supporter), and Western donors via UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees). This salvage effort underscores humanitarian imperatives in conflict zones, where cultural loss compounds displacement affecting 2.3 million Gazans, many now refugees. Globally, it affects diaspora communities in Jordan, Lebanon, and Europe, who view such heritage as identity anchors, and influences donor fatigue or renewed aid pledges. Trade and migration implications are indirect but real: instability hampers regional commerce through Rafah and Erez crossings, exacerbating poverty that drives irregular migration to Europe. Regionally, Gaza's cultural fabric weaves Arab-Islamic traditions with Levantine history, where mosques often house libraries preserving medieval manuscripts on theology, science, and poetry—echoing the Golden Age of Islam. Local dynamics pit communal solidarity against factionalism between Hamas and Fatah, with volunteers signaling apolitical cultural defense. Implications extend to Arab states' soft power competition and Iran's proxy support for Hamas, potentially escalating if heritage sites are weaponized in propaganda. Outlook remains precarious: without ceasefires, salvaged books risk further loss, but such acts could galvanize international advocacy for protected cultural corridors in future peace deals.