Norway’s arts and culture sector has made a powerful statement in support of Gaza, condemning the destruction of Palestinian cultural heritage amid the ongoing conflict. A spokesperson for a group of museum workers emphasized, “To say nothing about what is happening in Gaza today is to deal silently with a genocide and the destruction of part of our common cultural heritage.”
Israel’s long-standing oppression of Palestinians has targeted every facet of their existence, with international organizations and human rights watchdogs documenting the theft of Palestinian land and resources, along with widespread violence perpetrated by Israeli forces and settlers. Palestinian cultural heritage has not been spared, and experts describe the intensified attacks on Gaza’s archaeological sites as part of a “cultural genocide.”
A report released by Gazan authorities last year highlighted the destruction of over 200 archaeological and ancient sites since October 7, out of a total of 325 registered in Gaza. Significant sites like Anthedon Harbor, Gaza’s first known seaport dating back to 800 BC, and Qasr al-Basha, also known as Radwan Castle, have been targeted. Numerous other museums, libraries, archives, and one of the world’s oldest churches have been obliterated in violation of international laws that protect cultural heritage during wartime.
This unchecked aggression has sparked global condemnation, including from Norway’s arts and culture community. Around 70 employees of the National Museum of Norway, the country’s largest art museum, have united under the banner “Culture Against Genocide” and launched a petition against their management. This petition, which has garnered over 1,800 signatures from artists and others in the field, calls for the museum to demand an immediate and permanent cease-fire and to halt the humanitarian crisis and genocide of Palestinians due to Israel’s occupation and destruction of Gaza.
The petition also urges the National Museum to advocate for preserving Palestinian cultural heritage. Highlighting the importance of this heritage, the spokesperson noted that the museum houses a 19th-century Palestinian costume from Bethlehem adorned with ancient embroidery called “tatreez,” but lamented, “we are not allowed to showcase it now.”
Moreover, the petition calls for the museum to actively support artists and cultural workers who are threatened or sanctioned for their pro-Palestine stance. It demands that the museum boycott any collaboration or art associated with the Israeli government and withdraw from all events linked to the Israeli government.
The spokesperson criticized the National Museum for its double standards, pointing out its support for Ukraine during its conflict with Russia while remaining silent on Gaza. “The choice to support Ukrainians but not Palestinians can be interpreted as institutional racism,” they said. “To say nothing about what is happening in Gaza today is to deal silently with a genocide.”
Norwegian artist Jannik Abel, a signatory of the petition, has been documenting the pro-Palestine movement in Norway and working on Palestine-related projects. She criticized the National Museum’s passivity compared to other Norwegian institutions, stating, “My message to the National Museum is that there is no place to be neutral anymore. The times are too dark. Neutral means that you support a suppressed system, and we must show support.”
Abel highlighted the significant restrictions on freedom of speech regarding Palestine in Europe, particularly in Germany, England, and France, where discussions about Palestine or its culture are often suppressed.
Faisal Saleh, executive director of Palestine Museum US, expressed his frustration over the recent rejection of Palestinian art at the Venice Biennale despite meeting all requirements. The exhibition “Foreigners in Their Homeland” featured 26 Palestinian artists but was declined in favor of a project led by a South African artist with ties to Israel.
The Palestine Museum US, established in 2018, was founded to address the lack of Palestinian representation in the Western Hemisphere, where numerous museums promote the Israeli narrative. “It was vital for us to fill this vacuum and this gap in our artistic representation at the institutional level,” Saleh emphasized.
As Norway’s arts and culture community stands in solidarity with Gaza, their efforts underscore the critical role of cultural institutions in advocating for human rights and preserving cultural heritage amidst conflict.