Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 2023 have heavily damaged numerous structures that preserve the Palestinian people’s thousands of years of history. Gaza’s government Media Office said 208 of the 325 archaeological and historic sites in the area had been destroyed in attacks that directly targeted them.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also confirmed that 164 historic and cultural heritage sites in Gaza had been damaged as of March 24. The data showed that mosques, churches, bathhouses, palaces, historic marketplaces and ancient ports were affected by the attacks.
Gaza’s layered heritage has been damaged
The Gaza Strip has a multilayered historical heritage, bearing traces of the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Canaanite and Phoenician civilizations, as well as the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. Architectural structures, archaeological sites and places of worship are among the main elements reflecting the Palestinian people’s historical ties to their land.
Human rights organization Al-Haq said the attacks on historic and cultural heritage sites were not limited to the destruction of structures. The organization said the attacks amounted to depriving a people of its culture and weakening the foundations of its right to self-determination.
Great Omari Mosque’s 1,400-year-old minaret destroyed
The Great Omari Mosque, located in Gaza’s Old City, is considered the oldest mosque in the area. Built as a pagan temple, the structure was converted into a church in the 5th century during the Eastern Roman Empire and began serving as a mosque in the 7th century, during the time of Umar.
Destroyed several times throughout history by earthquakes and Crusader attacks, the mosque was rebuilt during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. The structure was damaged during World War I and restored in 1925. Israeli attacks since October 2023 completely destroyed the mosque’s 1,400-year-old minaret and damaged part of the building.
Civilians sheltering in Saint Porphyrius Church were killed
Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in the Zeitoun neighborhood was built in 425 AD and is considered the third-oldest surviving church in the world. The church, which holds spiritual significance for Gaza’s Christian community, is one of the area’s historic structures.
The church complex, where civilians had sought shelter in October 2023, was bombed twice. The attacks completely destroyed the church’s annex, killing at least 19 civilians, including children.
Bathhouses, mosques and churches suffered heavy damage
Al-Samra Bathhouse in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City’s Old City is also among the historic structures that were destroyed. Dating back to the 14th century, the bathhouse was considered the second-largest archaeological monument in the Gaza Strip after the Great Omari Mosque and one of the important examples of Ottoman architecture in Palestine.
Seyyid Hashim Mosque in the Daraj neighborhood stands at a site believed to contain the tomb of Hashim bin Abd Manaf, the great-grandfather of Prophet Muhammad. The mosque was heavily damaged in an airstrike on December 7, 2023.
The Katib al-Wilaya Mosque, dating from the Mamluk period, was also hit by an artillery attack on October 17, 2023, and suffered heavy damage. The structure is known as one of the historic buildings sharing a wall with Saint Porphyrius Church.
The Holy Family Church in Gaza City served as a shelter for Christians and Muslims during the attacks. Founded by Franciscan priests in the early 20th century, the church was heavily damaged in the bombardments. The building, used as a place of worship, served as a center of spiritual support and social activities for the Palestinian Christian community.
The church within Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital was founded by the Anglican Church in 1882. According to a statement by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the hospital and church were damaged in a rocket attack on October 14, 2023, and four hospital workers were injured. Three days later, an attack killed approximately 500 people at the hospital and church.
Pasha Palace and Gaza’s marketplaces destroyed
The Old City in central Gaza City consists of the Shuja’iyya, Daraj, Tuffah and Zeitoun neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have faced intense attacks since October 2023.
Pasha Palace in the Daraj neighborhood was considered one of the last surviving examples of palace architecture in Gaza featuring Mamluk and Ottoman characteristics. Much of the palace was reduced to rubble after the attacks. Only some wall remnants made of Mamluk-era sandstone and Ottoman-era rock and limestone remained.
Zawiya Market, extending eastward from Palestine Square, also suffered extensive destruction. Most of the shops in the market, one of the city’s major commercial and social centers, burned down or were destroyed. The shops sold spices, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and toys.
The foundations of Qaysariyya Market, one of the key centers of Gaza’s economy, date back to the Roman period. The structure took shape with domed architecture during the Mamluk period. Used as the tanners’ market before the Nakba, Qaysariyya later became known as the Goldsmiths’ Market, where gold and jewelry were sold. The bombardments caused extensive destruction around the market.
Anthedon Port also affected by the attacks
Khidr Shrine, or Saint George Monastery, in Deir al-Balah is known as the first Byzantine-era Saint George monastery built in Palestine. The structure was partially destroyed in Israeli attacks.
Abu Selim Mosque in Deir al-Balah, built approximately 75 years ago with inspiration from Ottoman and Egyptian architecture, was also targeted on August 24. Gaza’s archaeological repository, which housed thousands of artifacts from different civilizations, was destroyed and looted in January 2023.
Anthedon, Gaza’s first known port, was also damaged in the attacks. The ancient port, founded by the Canaanites in the 800s BC, is listed as one of three important sites on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list. The port was completely destroyed during the Israeli army’s ground attacks.
