Palestine urges UNESCO to save Gaza's historic buildings
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As part of the ongoing aggression and genocide in Gaza, Israeli occupation forces have repeatedly targeted mosques, churches, hospitals, and refugee centers.
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Junaid Sorosh-Wali, a UNESCO official, inspects the remains of a mosaic at St. Hilarion monastery in Nusseirat in Central Gaza on September 26, 2017. (AP)
Hamas requested UNESCO on Friday to conserve historic structures in Gaza, detailing how Israeli strikes have destroyed Palestine's oldest church, last hammam baths, and mosques.
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.
Hamas' Antiquities Ministry condemned the "ransacking of historical and archaeological sites" by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) since the aggression on Gaza started on October 7.
"Israel" has killed over 17,487 Palestinians, mostly women and children, so far.
The Ministry expressed that "the crime of targeting and destroying archaeological sites should spur the world and UNESCO into action to preserve this great civilizational and cultural heritage."
According to the government, 104 mosques have been destroyed since the war on Gaza began, and airstrikes targeted the Great Omari Mosque and the Othman bin Qashqar Mosque in Gaza City on Thursday and Friday.
The Ministry also denounced the destruction of the Hammam al-Samara, the territory's last Turkish-style bath, where Gazans have bathed for over 1,000 years.
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.
In the same context, the IOF confessed that a strike on the grounds of the St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City in late October was caused by its own aircraft.
Israeli war on Gaza health sector ongoing, more hospitals under siege
As part of their ongoing criminal campaign to wipe out historic and cultural monuments in the Strip, Israeli aircraft destroyed large parts of the iconic al-Omari Mosque in the old town of Gaza City.
Moreover, several Palestinians were killed and injured in the bombing of Abdul Karim al-Shaer Mosque in the Qizan an-Najjar area in Khan Younis.
Tens of Palestinian civilians were martyred on Friday in a number of Israeli massacres committed against families across Gaza, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.
The Ministry added that in the past hours of Friday, over 300 Palestinians were martyred and 600 others injured due to the Israeli bombing of various areas of the Gaza Strip.
Commenting on the inhumane conditions caused by the Israeli occupation entity, the Ministry described the ongoing situation as catastrophic, with hospitals in the central and northern Gaza Strip unable to accommodate more injuries.
Israeli occupation forces are besieging the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, the Ministry warned. This situation has resulted in food and water shortages affecting the wounded and the displaced taking shelter in the hospital, as well as the medical staff.
