The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage nominated by signatory countries to the World Heritage Convention of 1972. Cultural heritage comprises monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological ones). Natural heritage comprises natural features (such as physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened flora and fauna), and natural sites which are important for scientific research, conservation or natural aesthetic. Palestine accepted the convention on 8 December 2011, making its cultural and natural heritage sites eligible for inclusion on the list. There are six World Heritage Sites in the country: five in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip. In addition, the government of Palestine has placed 22 sites on its tentative list, meaning they intend to nominate them sometime in the future.
The first Palestinian World Heritage site was inscribed in 2012, being the "Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem." The most recently inscribed Palestinian World Heritage Site, , is "Sebastia", being inscribed in 2026. Four sites, "Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir", "Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town", "Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer", and "Sebastia", are on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger. The site "Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem" was also endangered between 2012 and 2019.
Jordan proposed the site "Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls", located in East Jerusalem, to be listed, and UNESCO listed it with no attribution to any state, with respect to its still-disputed status on whether it belongs to Israel or Palestine. In 2011, responding to allegations that they were going to assign the site to a state, UNESCO responded, "In line with relevant UN resolutions, East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the status of Jerusalem must be resolved in permanent status negotiations."
Due to the conflict between the two countries, Israel has consistently opposed Palestine's presence in UNESCO and eventually left the organization in 2019, accusing it of being dismissive of Jewish ties to the land. Tell es-Sultan's inclusion as a Palestinian site was criticized by Israel's Foreign Ministry as "distorted" and "another sign of Palestinians' cynical use of UNESCO and politicization of the organization", while Palestine's Minister of Agriculture Riad Attari called it progress towards achieving the Palestinian right to return. Several scholars argued that the Israeli cabinet is the one politicizing heritage, with Israeli heritage organization Emek Shaveh noting that the part of Jericho claimed by Israel is not the one listed. In 2011, in response to Palestine's entry as a UNESCO member, both Israel and the United States stopped paying all UNESCO dues. Still dissatisfied with UNESCO's treatment of Palestine, both countries left UNESCO in 2017, although the United States later rejoined in 2023.
World Heritage Sites UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural. Four sites are in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip.
+ Site Image Location (Governorate) Year listed Description Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan Jericho Governorate 2023 1687; iii, iv (cultural) This tell and the nearby village of Ein es-Sultan date to at least 10,500 BC. During the 9th to 8th millennia BC, humans began permanently settling here due to the presence of fertile soil and accessible water. Surviving neolithic architectural works include a sunk fence and a tower. During the Middle Bronze Age, this site went through significant urban development, such as establishing the city-state of Canaan. Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem Bethlehem Governorate 2012 1433; iv, vi (cultural) Located from Jerusalem, many Christians regard a cave here as the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity is the oldest regularly-used church and has become a pilgrimage site. The main route from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, which also extends to the Damascus Gate, is believed to be the path Jesus' parents, Joseph and Mary, used. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage in Danger due to the church's poor condition, but removed it from the list in 2019 following extensive exterior restoration. Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town Hebron Governorate 2017 1565; ii, iv, vi (cultural) Established in an area known for its limestone, Hebron is a pilgrimage site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The site includes the Cave of the Patriarchs, also known as the Ibrahami Mosque, where Abraham and his family were allegedly buried. It is a sacred place for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Once a trade hub for nearby countries, Hebron was expanded under Ottoman rule, although the Mamluk architecture persists. The site was immediately listed as endangered. Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir Bethlehem Governorate 2014 1492; iv, v (cultural) Located between Hebron and Nablus, Battir's valleys and terraces are used for market gardening, farming grapevines and olive trees. Due to its mountainous terrain, underground irrigation channels were made to accommodate farmers, and an egalitarian water distribution system is employed. The cultural landscape also includes rock-cut tombs and watchtowers. The impacts of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, including the construction of the West Bank barrier, have caused the site to be listed as endangered. Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm AmerDeir al-Balah Governorate 20241749; ii, iii, vi (cultural)This 4th-century monastery, located in the Nuseirat municipality, was named after saint Hilarion. Among the earliest in the Middle East, it was also the first in the Palestine region, triggering the spread of monasticism locally. Its members initially opted for solitude before turning coenobitic. Its location made it a crucial Afro-Asian cultural, religious, and economic hub. It was listed as endangered due to the bombing of the Gaza Strip since 2023. SebastiaNablus Governorate 20261809; iii (cultural)The former city in this site, ancient Samaria, was capital of the Kingdom of Israel. The Bible mentions it being acquired by Omri. Following the Neo-Assyrian reign, it was occupied and fortified in 332 BC by Alexander the Great. After a revitalization by Pompey, Herod the Great ruled the city and named it Sebastia after the Greek name of Augustus who gave him the land. Christians and Muslims believe that the city houses the tomb of John the Baptist. The current city was the eastern part of the Roman city.
World Heritage Sites in East Jerusalem Although it is listed without a specific state attributed, UNESCO acknowledges the area as "part of the occupied Palestinian territory," which is why it is included here. UNESCO also states that "the status of Jerusalem must be resolved in permanent status negotiations." + Site Image Location (Governorate) Year listed Description Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls Jerusalem Governorate 1981 148rev; ii, iii, vi (cultural)Jerusalem is a holy city for three Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. One of its landmarks, the 7th-century Dome of the Rock, is believed by all three to be the location of the binding of Isaac. Other landmarks include the Western Wall, a worshipping site for Jews; and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, whose rotunda is believed by Christians to be Jesus' burial site. Proposed by Jordan in 1980, the Old City was listed in 1981 and was listed as endangered in 1982. In 2000, Israel published a tentative extension of the site, but due to its still-debated status, the proposal is put on hold.
Tentative list In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites for nomination consideration. Nominations for the list are only accepted if the site had been on the tentative list. Palestine has 22 properties on its tentative list.