Israel’s Attack on Places of Worship Following Hospital: Unveiling the Disturbing Consequences
Israeli Air Strikes Destroy Mosque and Church in Gaza Strip
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army has reportedly targeted and destroyed another mosque and a church. The al-Omari Mosque, located in the Cibaliye region in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, was completely destroyed in the air strikes conducted by the Israeli army, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Gaza on their Telegram account.
It is currently unclear whether there were any casualties or injuries as a result of the attack, as the statement did not provide specific information in this regard. However, Selame Maruf, the Head of the Press Office of the Hamas-affiliated government in the Gaza Strip, had previously stated on October 18 that a total of 10 mosques were destroyed and several others were damaged in the Israeli attacks, including 7 historical mosques and churches.
In addition to targeting mosques, the Israeli army also aimed at a historical church in the Gaza Strip where displaced people had sought shelter. This attack resulted in casualties and injuries, with reports indicating that multiple individuals lost their lives. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, a prominent Christian religious authority, strongly condemned the attack on the church.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Gaza confirmed that the Israeli army had deliberately targeted the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza. Numerous displaced Palestinians had taken refuge in the church, and it was reported that “many people were killed and injured” as a result of the attack. According to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA, a young girl lost her life in the Israeli assault on the historical St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in the Az-Zeytun District in southern Gaza City.
The attack not only caused significant damage to the historical church but also resulted in the destruction of a nearby building. The St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, which is affiliated with the Anglican Church in Jerusalem, is located approximately 250 meters away from Al-Ehli Baptist Hospital, another target of Israeli bombing on October 17, which claimed the lives of hundreds of people.
Approximately 1,000 Christians reside in the area that Israel has targeted, and those whose homes were destroyed sought refuge in the church and its surrounding buildings for protection. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a statement strongly condemning the Israeli bombardment of their church in Gaza City, emphasizing their condemnation in the strongest terms.
The destruction of mosques and churches is adding to the already dire situation in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of people have been displaced and numerous lives have been lost in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. International calls for a ceasefire and de-escalation of the violence have been growing louder, as the destruction of religious and historical sites only exacerbates the suffering of the people in the region.
