The Israeli army targeted and destroyed more than 200 archaeological and heritage sites, out of 325 sites in Gaza, as part of its ongoing aggression since last October 7, according to the government media office in the Strip.

The "government journalist" added that he documented among those targeted sites "archaeological mosques, churches, schools, museums, ancient archaeological houses, and various heritage sites."

He considered targeting these sites “a failed attempt to erase the Palestinian cultural and heritage presence, and to erase historical evidence and the depth of Palestinian history in Gaza.”

Israel destroyed 200 archaeological sites in Gaza

He explained that "the heritage and archaeological sites destroyed by the army, some of which date back to the Phoenician and Roman eras, while some of them date back to 800 BC and 1,400 years ago, and others date back to 400 years ago."

Gaza is one of the ancient cities of the world, as it was subject to the rule of the Pharaohs, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and then the Islamic era.

The office condemned the targeting and destruction of these sites, considering it “a clear international crime in accordance with international laws, especially international humanitarian law, and conventions that prohibit the deliberate targeting of cultural and religious sites in all circumstances.”

He called on "international and international organizations related to the cultural and heritage dimension to condemn this organized crime committed by the occupation in Gaza," calling on them to "urgently intervene in order to stop this crime and work to rehabilitate and restore these sites."

The most prominent targeted sites

Among the most prominent sites destroyed by the army, according to the “government journalist,” were “the Byzantine Church of Jabalia, the Al-Omari Mosque in Jabalia (north), the Sheikh Shaaban Mosque, the Al-Dhafar Damri Mosque in Al-Shuja’iya (east of Gaza City), and the Al-Khader Shrine in Deir Al-Balah (central).” .

In addition to "the Balakhiya site (Anthedon Port) northwest of the old city of Gaza, the Khalil al-Rahman Mosque in the Abasan area in Khan Yunis (south), and the Center for Ancient Manuscripts and Documents in Gaza City."

In addition, the army targeted "the Church of Saint Porphyrius in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, the ancient Saqqa House in Al-Shuja'iyya, Tel Al-Mantar, east of Gaza City, Tel Al-Sakan, south of Gaza City, Hill 86 in Al-Qarara, south of the Strip, and Al-Sayyid Hashem Mosque in Gaza City."

Last November 21, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Observatory said that Israel “deliberately” destroys Palestinian archaeological monuments in Gaza, in “an explicit targeting of the human cultural heritage.”