The Highlight also examines how the term acquired additional meanings under British rule, including the legal category of Palestinian citizenship introduced in 1925, and how Palestinian identity developed within the broader context of Arab political movements. 🧵

By the early twentieth century, Palestinian writers and newspapers were increasingly using “Filastini” to describe the people, institutions, and political life of Palestine. By 1914, Arabs in Palestine were referring to themselves as Palestinians. 🧵

From the mid-nineteenth century onward, the term experienced a revival alongside the growing use of “Palestine” in Arabic and European languages. Ottoman-era schools, newspapers, books, and intellectual networks helped spread its use. 🧵

The terms “al-Filastini” and “al-Filastiniyyin” were used in the early Islamic period to refer to people from Palestine, but gradually disappeared from the historical record after the tenth century as Palestine ceased to be an administrative designation. 🧵

The fighting eventually led to a cease-fire and negotiations that resulted in disengagement agreements. The war also had consequences beyond the battlefield, as Arab oil-producing states imposed an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel. 🧵

The war began on 6 October, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack against Israel, followed by major ground battles and Israeli counter-attacks supported by the United States. 🧵

Among them are the Great Omari Mosque, Pasha Palace Museum, Anthedon Harbour, and the Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church complex. UNESCO continues to monitor damage and support measures to safeguard Palestinian cultural heritage. 🧵

The damaged sites include 14 religious sites, 128 buildings of historical and/or artistic interest, 3 repositories of movable cultural property, 9 monuments, 2 museums, and 8 archaeological sites. 🧵

Today, the significance of this membership has become particularly urgent amid the destruction of cultural heritage in Gaza since the beginning of the ongoing genocide in October 2023. As of 24 March 2026, UNESCO had verified damage to 164 cultural sites in Gaza since 7 October 2023. 🧵

Palestine ratified the 1972 World Heritage Convention two months later, giving it access to an international framework for the protection of its cultural heritage. Six Palestinian properties are now inscribed on the World Heritage List. 🧵