Conflict & Security
UNESCO adds Lebanon and West Bank sites to danger list
On 24 July 2026, UNESCO placed sites in southern Lebanon and the occupied West Bank on its list of World Heritage in Danger.
The UN cultural agency listed five castles in the Jabal Amel area of southern Lebanon, including Beaufort Castle, also known as Qalaat al-Shakif. The source said Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle in May during their invasion of Lebanon as part of the war with Hezbollah. UNESCO said the fortresses had been damaged and still faced threats from the conflict serious enough for an emergency procedure.
Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said the listing was a notable step in efforts to protect the Lebanese historical sites. He said only two of the castles were within the Lebanese government’s reach. He accused Israel of already destroying Shamaa Castle and of threatening to demolish Beaufort.
UNESCO also added Sebastia, near Nablus in the West Bank, to the danger list. The site is thought to be the ancient Israeli and later Roman city of Samaria. The source said Israel still uses the name Samaria for the northern West Bank.
The source said Israeli authorities have recently taken interest in the site, which is near the modern Palestinian town of Sebastia but in an area controlled exclusively by Israel. In 2025, they expropriated about 200 hectares of Palestinian land near the site, saying the move was for preservation and development. Palestinians in Sebastia have built a tourism industry around the site, but the source said new Israeli plans threaten to bypass it with an Israelis-only road, a fence and entry fees.
UNESCO said the site’s integrity was threatened by an expropriation project that would divide the property and create the “Samaria” or “Shomron” National Park.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised the listing. He blamed Palestinians and said it was an attempt to erase and deny the Jewish connection to the land.
The sites were added to the endangered list after votes by the 196 member states of the UN agency.
Uncertainty notes
The source describes Sebastia as thought to be the ancient Israeli and later Roman city of Samaria, rather than stating this as certain.
The source reports accusations and objections from Lebanese and Israeli officials; it does not independently resolve those disputes.
Source
AFP news report published on .