IOF destroyed 815 mosques, 19 cemeteries, 3 churches in Gaza in 2024
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The genocide in Gaza did not even spare religious heritage with mosques, cemeteries, and churches coming under Israeli attack.
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Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, on October 9, 2023. (AP)
Palestinian officials have reported severe damage and destruction affecting religious landmarks across the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank as a result of Israeli aggression. According to the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, nearly 1,000 mosques in Gaza suffered extensive damage in 2024, with 815 completely demolished and 151 sustaining partial damage.
The assault on religious heritage extended beyond mosques, as 19 cemeteries and three churches in Gaza were also devastated during the genocidal campaign. In the West Bank, 20 mosques were reportedly targeted, adding to the broader impact on Palestinian religious and cultural sites.
Israeli soldiers express amusement and celebrate as they detonate a mosque in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/R3BuDtoDIp
— Islam (@IslamAQFJ) October 31, 2024
The ministry also detailed increased tensions at the Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied al-Quds, where 256 settler-led incursions were recorded throughout the year. During the Hanukkah holiday in late December, over 2,500 settlers stormed the mosque's grounds, further straining an already volatile situation.
Read more: Settlers storm Al Aqsa Mosque, IOF detain Palestinians in West Bank
The destruction comes amid "Israel's" genocidal campaign which has ravaged Gaza since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of more than 45,800 people, predominantly women and children. The scale of the violence has drawn international condemnation and legal scrutiny.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, "Israel" faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza.
Latest developments
International observers are warning of an escalating humanitarian catastrophe amid "Israel's" impending ban on UNRWA operations.
UNRWA's senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge on Sunday warned that social order in Gaza is put at further risk if "Israel" proceeds with its plans to end the operations of the agency.
Meanwhile, on the global stage, Colombia has secured a seat for the first time on the United Nations Human Rights Council, a key body responsible for safeguarding human rights worldwide.
Following the announcement, Colombian President Gustavo Petro affirmed his administration’s commitment to confronting pressing human rights issues. In a statement on X, Petro emphasized that Colombia’s position on the systematic human rights violations in Palestine will remain "clear and resolute."
