Eliyahu Declares October 7 Shelters Protected Heritage Sites

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has declared shelters associated with the October 7 attack in the Gaza envelope protected antiquities and national heritage sites, following appeals from dozens of bereaved families and captivity survivors. He notified regional-council heads and the Antiquities Authority on Wednesday morning. The ministry says ownership remains unchanged, while demolition, removal, plastering, repainting or other physical alterations require prior professional conservation approval. The designation includes the shelter where Aner Shapira fought and aims to preserve surviving evidence of the attack rather than allow it to be erased by maintenance work.