The Impact of the Gaza War on Palestinian Musical Memory: Musical Heritage between Institutional Destruction and the Fracturing of Symbolic Meaning: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the impact of the Gaza War (2023–2025) on Palestinian musical memory, focusing on its effects on musical heritage. Specifically, it examined the relationship between the destruction of cultural and musical institutions, the fracturing of the symbolic meaning of traditional songs, and the weakening of intergenerational musical communication. The study employed a quantitative, descriptive-analytical approach and targeted a population comprising musicians, employees at cultural and musical institutions, and parents of children, resulting in a final sample of 147 respondents selected through simple random sampling.

The results indicated a significant impact of the war on Palestinian musical heritage, manifested in the damage to cultural and musical institutions, which limited their capacity to conduct activities and preserve heritage. The symbolic meaning of traditional songs was undermined, affecting their role in supporting national identity and psychosocial resilience. Furthermore, a clear weakness in intergenerational musical communication was observed due to the loss of skilled personnel, expertise, and the absence of structured programs for transmitting musical knowledge.

The study recommended the rehabilitation of cultural and musical institutions, the protection of archives and musical instruments, and the promotion of traditional songs within educational and instructional programs. Furthermore, it emphasized the establishment of a comprehensive digital database to preserve musical heritage and the activation of national cultural policies to support and strengthen Palestinian heritage.