The Unseen Battle: Preserving Palestinian History
In the midst of a complex geopolitical landscape, a quiet yet crucial mission unfolded, one that aimed to safeguard an invaluable piece of Palestinian heritage. The story of the UN's clandestine operation to rescue vital refugee archives is a testament to the power of memory and the lengths to which some will go to protect it.
The Race Against Time
Imagine a scenario where a simple trip from East Jerusalem to Amman becomes a high-stakes mission. That's exactly what faced the humanitarian workers of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Their task? To rescue archival documents that hold the key to understanding decades of Palestinian history.
This 10-month operation was a delicate dance, involving staff from multiple countries, risky document retrieval missions, and even unmarked envelopes smuggled into Egypt. The urgency was palpable as time ticked away, with UNRWA's East Jerusalem compound becoming a target of Israeli efforts to expel the agency.
The Significance Unveiled
The archives, detailing Palestinian experiences during the wars leading to Israel's foundation in 1948, are more than just historical records. As Roger Hearn, a senior UNRWA official, puts it, "Their destruction would have been catastrophic... These documents are the only evidence people can use to show there were once Palestinians living in a particular place."
A Surprising Role for UNRWA
UNRWA, founded in 1949 to provide healthcare, food, and education to Palestinian refugees, found itself in an unexpected position. Among dusty boxes in Gaza City were original registration cards and vital certificates, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who sought refuge in 1948. Despite efforts to digitize, hundreds of thousands of records remained vulnerable in paper form.
Jean-Pierre Filiu, a Middle East Studies professor, emphasizes the importance of these documents, describing them as "crucial to the Palestinian experience." They hold testimonies of forced displacement, property loss, and the stories of over 200,000 Palestinians who fled to Gaza between 1948 and 1949.
A History of Hostility
Israel's long-standing hostility towards UNRWA is well-documented. The agency has been accused of keeping alive Palestinian hopes of returning to their original homes by granting refugee status to descendants. Israel has also alleged that UNRWA textbooks promote anti-Israel and antisemitic views.
After the 2023 Hamas raid, Israel accused UNRWA staff in Gaza of involvement, leading to the termination of nine employees after an investigation.
Dramatic Rescue Efforts
The first phase of the document rescue operation was nothing short of dramatic and dangerous. After Israel ordered the evacuation of UNRWA's Gaza City offices, international staff had to leave, unable to take the archives with them. Sam Rose, the acting director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, recalls the risk of the Israelis moving in and destroying the documents or their destruction in a fire or explosion.
Just months prior, UNRWA's digital registration system was hacked, raising fears of a potential cyber-attack that could wipe out both the original and digital records. Despite ongoing airstrikes and shelling, a small team of UNRWA officials made three trips to bring the documents to a food warehouse in Rafah, on the border with Egypt.
However, Cairo's refusal to allow the archives out of Gaza without Israeli consultation presented a new challenge. UNRWA officials with international passports were tasked with smuggling the documents out unobserved, carrying them in unmarked envelopes and even in their luggage.
Over six months, the documents were transported to Jordan by a local charity using the kingdom's military planes. The final cargo arrived just weeks before Israeli tanks seized Rafah, blocking the exit route.
The East Jerusalem Compound
As the war intensified, Israel stepped up accusations of UNRWA's collaboration with Hamas, launching a campaign of obstruction and harassment. The East Jerusalem compound became a target of protests and arson attacks, causing extensive damage. With diplomatic missions refusing to store the archives, staff members secretly transferred them to Jordan, just months before new Israeli laws barred UNRWA from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Digitizing the Archives
In Amman, a massive digitization effort was launched, funded primarily by Luxembourg. Over 50 UNRWA staff worked tirelessly in a cramped basement to scan original refugee registration documents and millions of other items. The goal? To provide every Palestinian refugee with their family tree and supporting documents, and to create maps showing displacement patterns in 1948.
Dr. Anne Irfan, a historian of the modern Middle East, highlights the significance of these archives, especially for a stateless people like the Palestinians. She believes the digitized archives open up avenues to explore Palestinian refugee experiences, the role of the UN and international community, and core elements of Middle Eastern politics over the last 80 years.
"It is highly contested history, and history that has potentially very real ramifications for the present," she adds.
A Deeper Reflection
The story of the UN's secret mission to rescue the Palestinian refugee archive is a powerful reminder of the importance of historical records and the ongoing struggles for recognition and justice. It raises questions about the role of international organizations, the impact of political tensions on cultural preservation, and the resilience of those fighting to protect their heritage.
As we reflect on this mission, we're reminded of the enduring power of memory and the lengths to which we must go to protect it.
