Khaberni - Within the ongoing genocide war in Gaza, Israel killed 233 mosque preachers, imams, and Muslim missionaries, along with 20 Christians, in its assaults on Islamic and Christian places of worship in the sector.
Director of the Government Media Office in Gaza, Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated that Israel follows "brutal policies" aimed at dismantling the Palestinian community spiritually and morally by targeting religious figures and destroying mosques and churches, in addition to striking the civil infrastructure.
Al-Thawabta emphasized that religious scholars are pillars in reinforcing national and religious values, and enhancing resilience in the face of aggression, pointing out that targeting them aims to "silence the religious and national discourse, and create a spiritual and cultural vacuum that paves the way for imposing the Israeli colonial narrative," according to Anadolu Agency.
Anadolu Agency noted Israel's targeting of several prominent preachers and imams, including Yusuf Salama, who had served as Minister of Religious Affairs and previously as preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, who was martyred in a raid on his home in Maghazi Camp.
The occupation also targeted the preacher Wael Zard, known for his sermons and leading prayers in mosques across the sector, who died due to injuries sustained from bombing his home in Gaza City.
In Sabra neighborhood, preacher Walid Aweidah was martyred by Israeli bombing that targeted his house; he had been serving as the Director General for Memorization at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and was a member of the World Union of Muslim Scholars.
Destruction of places of worship
According to the latest statistics, Israel has completely destroyed over 835 mosques, and caused partial damage to another 180 mosques, as well as targeting 3 main churches in Gaza City several times, resulting in the destruction of large portions of them.
Major churches in Gaza were directly bombed, despite being transformed into shelters for displaced people, as Al-Thawabta reported that these attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 20 Christians, including women and children, and the destruction of religious, educational facilities, and safe houses.
Among the churches targeted by Israel in Gaza are the St. Porphyrius Church for the Greek Orthodox, the Holy Family Church (Latin/Catholic), and the Evangelical Baptist Church in the sector.
The Director of the Government Media Office in Gaza also viewed these attacks as "a blatant violation of the protection afforded by international humanitarian law to clergy and places of worship," amounting to "war crimes and religious persecution" according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Since October 7, 2023, with American support, Israel has continued a genocide war in Gaza, resulting in 67,139 martyrs, and 169,583 injured, mostly children and women, and famine that claimed the lives of 460 Palestinians including 154 children.
