Tell Umm el-'Amr

Tell Umm el-'Amr, also known as Tell Umm Amer, is an archaeological site located in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Deir al-Balah Governorate, Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Location
Tell Umm el-ʿAmr is located in the dune landscapes south of the mouth of the Wadi Ghazzeh in the area of the Al Nusairat refugee camp, about 5.28 miles south of Gaza City. The distance to the Mediterranean coast is 1000–2000 feet. In the east and southeast of the Tell Umm el-'Amr site, there are palm groves that form a border with the neighboring town of Deir al-Balah. The archaeological site covers an area of approximately 46000 square feet.

History
Uncovered by local archaeologists in 1999, the Tell Umm el-'Amr site was active from the 4th to the 8th century and contains Christian artifacts. Currently, the site consists of the monastery of Saint Hilarion; as well as religious buildings (e.g. church, cloister) and all the outbuildings necessary for the life of the monks (e.g. miscellaneous room, dormitory). Additionally, the archaeologists found a hotel complex and baths probably used by visiting pilgrims at the site. The Saint Hilarion Monastery is dedicated to Hilarion of Gaza and is nominated as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Preservation and protection
In 2013, fundraising was launched in order to be able to carry out excavations on the site and put in place protection measures.

In 2024, a request for UNESCO world heritage status was submitted.