Israeli media: IOF destroys 192 Mosques in Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
10 Dec 2023 13:17
9 Shares

Israeli media reports that IOF aircraft targeted the Al-Omari mosque, which is the third oldest mosque in Palestine.

Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque, which was destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, October 9, 2023. (AP)

Israeli media reported that the Israeli Occupation Forces had left 192 mosques destroyed during the span of the aggression, under the pretext of hiding Hamas tunnels underneath.

Two days ago, Israeli occupation aircraft carried out airstrikes on the historic al-Omari Mosque in the Old City of Gaza, damaging large parts of it.

The al-Omari Mosque, built more than 1400 years ago, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in Gaza, and the third-largest mosque in Palestine, second to Al-Aqsa and Akka's Ahmad Basha Al-Jazzar mosque, and equivalent in size to the Mahmoudiya Mosque in Yafa.

Worshippers usually flock to the al-Omari Mosque from the northern and southern regions of the sector, covering long distances to perform prayers in this mosque, and to perform religious and recreational activities organized during the month of Ramadan.

Gazans refer to al-Omari as the "Little al-Aqsa Mosque" due to its resemblance to the Holy al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied al-Quds.

The al-Omari Mosque covers an area of about 4100 square meters, and its courtyard extends to 1190 square meters, with the building carrying about 38 marble columns adorned with artistic patterns from different eras.

Also, the Israeli occupation destroyed another mosque in the New Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.

Among the prominent mosques that were subjected to Israeli aggression are: the Imad Aql Mosque in northern Gaza, Al-Furqan Mosque in the Bureij camp in central Gaza, Al-Nuseirat Mosque, al-Yarmouk Mosque, the Abbas Mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin Mosque in the Al-Shati camp, Tawbah Mosque in the Jabaliya camp, in addition to three other mosques in Khan Younis, including the al-Amin Mosque.

The occupation army didn't discriminate with regards to sanctities, targeting Christian churches in addition to mosques, notoriously committing a massacre on October 20th when it shelled the Church of St. Porphyrius, which had been sought for refuge by Christian and Muslim families in the sector.

Likewise, the Baptist Church was damaged due to Israeli aggression, as it was hit during the shelling of the Baptist Hospital on the 17th of October.