Decision 46 COM 8B.44

Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer (State of Palestine)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Documents WHC/24/46.COM/8B.Add.2 and WHC/24/46.COM/INF.8B1.Add.2,
2. Taking note that on 24 June 2024 the World Heritage Centre received a request from the State of Palestine to process the nomination of Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer on an emergency basis at its present session,
3. Also taking note of the provisions under Paragraph 161 of the Operational Guidelines concerning nominations to be processed on an emergency basis, which are to “constitute an emergency situation for which an immediate decision by the Committee is necessary to ensure their safeguarding” and to “unquestionably justify Outstanding Universal Value”,
4. Further taking note that, ICOMOS asserts that the nominated property is facing serious and specific dangers from natural events or human activities which would constitute an emergency situation for which an immediate decision by the Committee is necessary to ensure its safeguarding,
5. Noting that the nominated property has been placed under provisional enhanced protection by the Committee for the Protection of the Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict during its 18th session (December 2023),
6. Acknowledging that, given the short timeframe between the submission of the nomination of Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer to be processed on an emergency basis and the 46th session of the Committee, ICOMOS has not been able to assess the qualities of the property which may justify its Outstanding Universal Value,
7. Also noting the exceptional circumstances that have prevented a fully-fledged evaluation process and bearing in mind that the consideration of this nomination by the World Heritage Committee shall in no way constitute a precedent for future nominations processed on an emergency basis,
8. Inscribes Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer, State of Palestine, on the World Heritage List following to emergency procedure on basis of the criteria (ii), (iii) and (vi);
9. Also inscribes Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer, State of Palestine, on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
10. Takes note furthermore that a provisional Statement of Outstanding Universal Value is under preparation and will be submitted for adoption by the Committee at its 47th session if possible;
11. Recommends that the State Party invites a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, as soon as the situation on the ground allows, to establish a Desired State of Conservation and a program of corrective measures for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;
12. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 December 2025 or as soon as the situation allows, a report on the state of conservation of the property for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 48th session.