The Rafah Museum (Arabic: متحف رفح) was established in December 2022 in the south of the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It was founded by Laila Shaheen, who holds a doctorate in educational studies from the Arab Research Institute of the League of Arab States in Cairo and a doctorate in arts education technology from Helwan University in Egypt. Openings, exhibitions, and heritage celebrations were held at the museum to commemorate Earth Day and International Women’s Day.[1][2]
Collections
editThe museum contained heritage items, mannequins, old court documents, historical documents, traditional clothing, tools, Palestinian embroidery, brass utensils and old agricultural tools. [3]
The museum also exhibited rare gemstones, old passports, postage stamps, illustrated documents about ancient Palestine, Palestinian women's headdresses, baskets, and an ancient sieve.[4]
Destruction
editThe museum was bombed in 2023 by the Israeli Air Force in response to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.[5][6] Shahin said after the bombing:[7]
No tree, no stone, no human being, no animal, no heritage is safe here, the treasures of my life and my toil, the dresses, precious stones, old coins, documents, the treasures of my life are gone. This is our condition, this is the condition of the Palestinian people, God help us[.]
References
edit- ^ "سيدة فلسطينية تنشئ أول متحف للتراث على نفقتها الخاصة". قناة الغد (in Arabic). 2023-01-21. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ kamal.hanna. "سهيلة شاهين تؤسس متحف التراث الفلسطيني في رفح". العربي (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ فلسطينيات, شبكة نوى، (2022-12-26). ""متحف رفح" حلم سهيلة الذي تحقق بعد ثلاثين عام". شبكة نوى، فلسطينيات (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "أول متحف للتراث الفلسطيني في غزة بجهود سيدة". القدس العربي. 2023-11-25. Archived from the original on 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Diaz, Jaclyn (8 December 2023). "Treasures destroyed and masterpieces in vaults: War's toll for art in Israel and Gaza". National Public Radio. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Kendall Adams, Geraldine (30 January 2024). "Widescale destruction of cultural heritage in Gaza". Museums Association. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "د.ليلى شاهين". بنفسج (in Arabic). 2023-11-06. Archived from the original on 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
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