The first day of the program featured sessions addressing the importance of cultural heritage during armed conflicts and its relationship to identity and human rights. It also explored the international legal frameworks governing its protection, including the 1954 Hague Convention and its Protocols, UNESCO conventions, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. The day also included an interactive discussion on contemporary challenges facing the protection of cultural heritage in Palestine.

The second day focused on moving from the legal framework to practical application. Discussions addressed mechanisms for documenting violations and critically examined the concepts of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The sessions also explored mechanisms of accountability for the destruction of cultural heritage, including the roles of the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, human rights mechanisms, and national accountability mechanisms. One of the sessions further examined the role of art, storytelling, exhibitions, and community-based initiatives as tools for advocacy, preserving cultural identity, and raising awareness during armed conflicts.

The Summer School concluded on its third day with a field visit to the town of Sebastia. The visit included the Abdul Hamid Mosque, the Shrine of John the Baptist, the Old Town, and archaeological landmarks at the site. Participants also met with representatives of the Sebastia Municipal Council, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, and the local community to discuss the ongoing threats and attacks affecting archaeological sites, the legal challenges facing the protection of cultural heritage in the town, ongoing efforts to preserve it, and the available mechanisms for its protection.

The Summer School was organized as part of a series of activities and programs implemented by the Palestinian Institute for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, in cooperation with international universities and partner institutions, with the aim of strengthening the connection between legal knowledge, practical application, and community advocacy in advancing the protection of cultural heritage, particularly in the context of armed conflicts. These efforts contribute to safeguarding cultural identity and protecting sites of historical and cultural significance, while also highlighting contemporary developments and emerging issues within the Palestinian context.

The Summer School was implemented within the framework of the institute’s Establishment project funded by the European Union.