GAZA, (PIC)
The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs announced that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) destroyed 89% of the mosques in the Gaza Strip and caused financial losses to the religious and endowment sector estimated at more than half a billion dollars.
The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, “The occupation’s missiles and bombs completely or partially destroyed (1109) out of (1244) mosques in the Gaza Strip, which makes 89% of Gaza mosques.
The number of completely destroyed mosques reached (834) mosques that were razed to the ground and turned into rubble, while (275) mosques were partially damaged, making them unfit for use, which directly affected the performance of religious rituals.
The Ministry pointed out that Israeli crimes included bombing mosques and prayer halls while worshipers were performing prayers, as happened in the prayer hall of the Al-Tabi’een School in Gaza City.
Historic mosques and religious places were also bombed by IOF, most notably the Great Omari Mosque and three churches in Gaza City, according to the Ministry of Endowments.
The dead were not spared from the brutality and crimes of the IOF, as it targeted (40) cemeteries, out of a total number of (60) cemeteries, and completely destroyed (21) cemeteries, whereas (19) cemeteries were partially damaged, in addition to digging up graves, stealing the bodies of the dead and martyrs, and mutilating them in barbaric and brutal ways.
The Ministry pointed out that the IOF also destroyed (643) endowment properties.
In addition to the above, the Israeli aggression targeted religious education and Islamic Dawa institutions, hindering their vital services and affecting thousands of students and beneficiaries of their services, as it targeted nearly (30) religious institutions.
The IOF also targeted (30) administrative headquarters, most notably the main headquarters of the ministry and the headquarters of the Holy Quran Radio. Additionally, (20) vehicles belonging to the ministry were either completely or partially damaged.
The ministry stated that the number of martyrs among the employees of the Ministry of Endowments, its preachers and imams surged to (315) martyrs, and the number of detainees reached (27).
It stressed that despite the ferocity of the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip throughout the war period, the Ministry of Endowments did not stop shouldering its duty, and did everything in its power to carry out the role assigned to it through:
-Establishing more than (400) temporary prayer halls throughout the Gaza Strip and calling to prayers, especially in displacement camps, in partnership with charitable institutions to ensure the continuation of daily prayers, Friday prayers, and congregational prayers in addition to holding Quran memorization sessions.
-Launching and implementing projects to support preachers and memorizers to enable them to perform their preaching and conveying Quranic message during the war. (500) preachers were sponsored, and more than (700) Quran memorization sessions were held, including nearly (10,500) male and female students.
The Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli war crimes committed against the Palestinian people, and their mosques, places of worship, and cemeteries, and demanded that international institutions hold Israeli officials accountable.
It held the IOF and all those who support it fully responsible for targeting women, children, the elderly, mosques, places of worship, cemeteries, and endowment properties.
The Ministry called on Islamic countries and religious institutions to assume their responsibilities and work to rebuild the mosques and religious institutions destroyed by the Israeli occupation, so that they can regain their vital role in serving society and promoting religious and human values.
It stressed that the Ministry of Endowments will continue with all its capabilities, cadres, and employees to perform and convey the religious message.
It reiterated that rebuilding mosques is not just a religious necessity, but a humanitarian priority to ensure the continuity of services provided by the endowment sector in the face of the harsh conditions experienced by the people of Gaza.
