Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: A senior European Union official hinted that 'Israel' would be held accountable for violating international law in Gaza
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida: The losses incurred by the occupation today in Khan Younis and Jabalia are an extension of a series of top-tier operations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: The invading Israeli force is digging a trench and erecting earthen berms, amid detected activity suggesting preparations to install espionage equipment
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: An Israeli force breaches the "technical fence" in the Wazzani area
Israeli media: 4 Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Government Media Office: Starved citizens are tempted to head to American-Israeli centers and then are deliberately shot
Gaza Government Media Office: The toll at US-Israeli aid distribution centers is as follows: 110 martyred, 583 wounded, and 9 missing
Gaza Government Media Office: 8 starved civilians were killed and 61 others were injured by the gunfire of Israeli occupation forces and an American security company in Rafah
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Three martyrs, injured in Israeli drone strike on phone charging station west of Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four martyrs, dozens of injured as IOF open fire on civilians near GHF facility west of Rafah, southern Gaza.

NGO: Israeli aggression in Gaza decimated over 100 heritage sites

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 29 Nov 2023 19:52
  • 4 Shares
4 Min Read

Palestine has been ruled by several dynasties and empires over the centuries, making its history extremely rich and significant. 

  • x
  • NGO: Israeli aggression in Gaza decimated over 100 heritage sites
    Ibn Uthman Mosque, dates back to the 15th century and is thought to be the burial site for the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s great-grandfather, after an Israeli airstrike (Heritage for Peace)

According to reports by an NGO, the bombing of the Gaza Strip has not only targeted thousands of Palestinians but also demolished a number of historical architecture and heritage sites.

According to Art News, Palestine has been ruled by several dynasties and empires over the centuries, making its history extremely rich and significant. 

The publication refers to Palestine as a cultural palimpsest, underlining that most of which has yet to be unearthed. According to a preliminary estimate by a Spanish NGO dedicated to cultural heritage preservation, 104 sites have been damaged or entirely destroyed by Israeli forces.

The data given by Heritage for Peace on November 7th includes historic religious sites, residences, museums, and archeological sites.

According to Isber Sabrine, a Syrian archaeologist and the head of the NGO, "The report shows the importance of Gaza's heritage." She notes that since shelling has destroyed both what is below and above ground, that heritage may never be understood.

Several historic mosques have been damaged as a result of the continuous air attacks. 

The Omari Mosque, a building of seventh-century roots that was entirely crushed in the Jabalia refugee camp immediately after the bombing of Saint Porphyrius church, is thought to be the third oldest church in the world.

Losing a page from our history

Related News

Oct. 7 attack major Israeli intel failure: New Shin Bet chief

Dozens of Palestinians deliberately killed, wounded at GHF aid sites

The NGO also reported damage to the 15th-century Ibn Uthman Mosque and the Sayed Hashem Mosque, where the Islamic prophet Muhammad's great-grandfather is supposed to be buried. 

Jehad Yasin, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism’s director of museums and excavations, told The Art Newspaper that given the severity of strikes, staff could not even carry out assessments of sites.

Yasin confirmed that the 2,000-year-old Roman cemetery uncovered last year in northern Gaza, which included dozens of ancient burials and two rare lead sarcophagi, was "almost completely destroyed" expressing that "If we lose this material, I think we lose a page from our history."

Additionally, the Rafah Museum in southern Gaza posted two videos on its Facebook page showing the structure partially crumbled. According to Yasin, Palestinian officials have received reports of serious damage to the Al Qarara Cultural Museum and the Deir Al Balah Museum.

Mohammad Abulehia, who established the Al Qarara Museum in 2016, expressed that the museum was established to "protect and preserve Gaza’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage."

He recalled collecting the assets as they remain threatened by the occupation's airstrikes, noting that "There is no place safe in Gaza.”

According to Yasin, the shelling has also had a severe influence on Anthedon Harbour, Gaza's first known seaport, which was inhabited from 800BC until AD1100. It is one of three Gazan sites on Unesco's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. 

Unesco expressed concern regarding the impact of the war on Gaza on cultural heritage and called on all to "respect international law."

'Israel' wipes out civilian infrastructure

The occupation also destroyed 100 governmental headquarters and 266 schools and put 66 other schools out of service.

"Israel's" genocide in Gaza has led to the destruction and damage of more than 60% of housing units in the Gaza Strip. In detail, 230,000 housing units were partially destroyed, while 44,000 were completely destroyed.

The Israeli occupation has also heavily targeted medical institutions and journalists, killing 205 medical workers, 22 civil defense workers, and 62 journalists. In addition, 26 hospitals and 56 medical centers have been put out of service due to the Israeli siege and the occupation's deliberate bombing of medical institutions.

  • NGO
  • Gaza
  • Israel
  • UN World Heritage Site

Most Read

Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
It may well be due to the longstanding relationship between MI6 and HTS, via Inter Mediate, that Britain was the first Western country to recognise their assumption of government in Syria. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

How MI6 helped HTS seize Syria

  • Opinion
  • 31 May 2025
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP)

Boston Consulting Group withdraws from GHF

  • Palestine
  • 3 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Poll
Palestine

Sharp decline in international perception of 'Israel', Netanyahu: Poll

Ukrainian soldiers with the anti-drone KVS G-6, manufactured by Kvertus Technology.Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/Facebook
US & Canada

Shift in US priorities: Drone fuzes reallocated from Kiev to CENTCOM

US Jews accuse Trump of antisemitism despite his pro-'Israel' stance
US & Canada

US Jews accuse Trump of antisemitism despite his pro-'Israel' stance

Former US President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Sept. 30, 2024 (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
US & Canada

Trump orders investigation into Biden’s autopen use, cognitive fitness

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS