Oct. 7 Gaza Envelope bomb shelters designated antiquities as safeguard against 'clean up' projects

The Israeli government has designated bomb shelters in the Gaza Envelope as antiquities to protect them from being removed or cleared. This action was taken under Section 1 of the Antiquities Law of 1978, which empowers the relevant minister to grant protected status to sites or artifacts deemed to hold distinct national historical value.

The designation serves as a legal safeguard to ensure these structures remain in place. By classifying these shelters as antiquities, the state aims to preserve them as historical markers related to the events of October 7.