29 parties and civil organizations called for the immediate cessation of the demolition work targeting the historical buildings in Benghazi, calling in a statement issued on Wednesday on the authorities responsible for the reconstruction to preserve and protect the historical buildings that date back to ancient eras, which gave them great historical value, as they became part of the history of the city of Benghazi.

The statement stressed the need to seek the help of national expertise in the field of antiquities and heritage and to coordinate through a joint, neutral committee in the city, to protect this architectural heritage and to abide by national legislation and decisions issued by UNESCO regarding historical and ancient buildings, as well as to preserve the artistic architecture of the city and its civilization.

The process of removing war-damaged buildings in Benghazi sparked a state of controversy among Libyans, whose opinions were divided between expressing dissatisfaction because some of these buildings are landmarks of the city and part of its history, such as the Al Jazeera Palace Hotel, the Brienche Cinema building, the National Bank building, the Spring Market, among others, while others considered the step necessary for the buildings that were already collapsing, but they criticized the official state of secrecy about what is happening, and the absence of post-demolition plans.

Comments on social media shared photos of the removal of buildings, asking questions about the party behind the demolition and the objective reasons for this decision, requesting official clarifications about the plans to exploit these spaces.

No official body in Benghazi has disclosed any details of the demolitions, nor did the Benghazi municipality or the "Reconstruction and Stability Committee" announced any information, maps, or photos of the demolitions.