In a devastating turn of events, the Israeli army has destroyed more than 200 archaeological and ancient sites in the Gaza Strip out of a total of 325 registered since October 7. This revelation comes from the Gaza Media Office, shedding light on the collateral damage inflicted on cultural and historical landmarks amid the ongoing conflict.
Among the obliterated sites are ancient churches, mosques, schools, museums, and various historical and archaeological monuments, some dating back to the Phoenician and Roman ages. The Gaza Media Office has emphasized the gravity of the situation, asserting that these sites held significant historical and cultural value, representing different periods in the region’s rich past.
“The ancient and archaeological sites destroyed by the army date back to the Phoenician and Roman ages, others date back between 800 BC and 1,400, while others were built 400 years ago,” stated the Gaza Media Office in a released statement.
The Great Omari Mosque, the Byzantine church in Jabalia, the Shrine of Al-Khadir in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza Strip, and the Blakhiya Byzantine cemetery (The Anthedon of Palestine), northwestern Gaza City are among the devastated sites. Also, severely damaged are the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, the 400-year-old Al-Saqqa House, and the Sayed al-Hashim Mosque, one of the oldest in Gaza.
The Geneva-based rights group, Euro-Med Monitor, previously accused Israel of deliberately destroying archaeological and historical monuments in the Gaza Strip, explicitly targeting Palestinian cultural heritage. These allegations highlight the broader implications of the conflict on the preservation of cultural identity and historical legacy.
Gaza, with its ancient and diverse history, has witnessed the rule of various empires and civilizations, including the Pharaohs, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and the Islamic age. The destruction of these archaeological sites raises concerns about the irreversible loss of cultural heritage, leaving the international community to grapple with the impact on the region’s historical narrative.
The ongoing conflict has taken a toll on Gaza, with the enclave’s infrastructure left in ruins. Reports indicate that 60% of the region’s infrastructure is damaged or destroyed, displacing nearly 2 million residents and creating acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicines.
As the world watches the devastating consequences of the conflict unfold, questions about the preservation of cultural heritage amid geopolitical turmoil continue to resonate globally. The allegations against the Israeli army further intensify the need for international scrutiny and intervention to protect these invaluable historical sites from further destruction.
