In the city of Deir al-Balah in Palestine’s Gaza Strip, historic stone and marble pieces remaining from the Abu Salim Mosque are being preserved. The Protectors of Palestinian Heritage team, operating under the Maytham Culture and Arts Association, is collecting building elements scattered around the site in the attacks and moving them to a safe area.
As part of the work, marble pieces suitable for restoration are being stored, while the team also aims to recover historically valuable books from inside the mosque. The Deir al-Balah Municipality plans to work with civil society organizations, donors and residents to restore the building.
The mosque bears traces of Ottoman architecture
Deir al-Balah Mayor Khalil Abu Samra said the mosque was built in 1951 by Hajji Muhammad Abu Salim using his own resources and was constructed in the Ottoman architectural style. Abu Samra said the Abu Salim Mosque had been a historic structure preserved in the city for 75 years and pointed to the value of its stone and marble elements.
Abu Samra said Israeli forces had attacked the mosque and expressed hope that the work carried out by volunteers would help restore the building’s former appearance. The mayor said they would work with the municipality, civil society organizations, donors and residents on restoration despite limited resources.
“We will preserve what remains of this mosque. We will do everything we can to ensure that it continues to exist as a historic landmark and part of Deir al-Balah’s cultural heritage.”
Abu Samra argued that attacks on historic buildings in Gaza aimed to erase the region’s historical memory. “History lives on in the memory of our children. Adults pass away, but children do not forget,” he said.
Preserved pieces will be kept for restoration
Itimad Hamouda of the Protectors of Palestinian Heritage team said they wanted to save the mosque’s historically and culturally significant elements. Hamouda said the volunteers and the municipality would work together if the necessary conservation and restoration materials could be obtained.
Hamouda said the surviving historic elements would be kept under protection until restoration began, adding that the Abu Salim Mosque bears traces of Ottoman and Egyptian architecture. She said the building was an important part of the cultural heritage that the residents of Deir al-Balah had preserved over the years.
Through the “The Lights of Abu Salim Will Not Go Out” campaign, the volunteer team aims to preserve Deir al-Balah’s cultural heritage. The team had previously worked to rescue museum collections damaged in attacks.
The mosque was restored in 2010
Located in an elevated area, the Abu Salim Mosque is among Deir al-Balah’s prominent religious and architectural landmarks. The building was restored in 2010 while preserving its original architectural elements.
In 2014, the Israeli army targeted the upper section of the mosque’s minaret. The minaret was rebuilt through cooperation between the Riwaq Center, which works in the field of traditional architecture, and the Iwan Center, which conducts activities to preserve architectural heritage.
A new attack on the mosque on August 24, 2026, destroyed a significant part of its inner courtyard and main building. The attacks also caused extensive damage in the surrounding area.
According to data from Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, 1,050 of the 1,275 mosques in the region before the war were completely destroyed, while 191 mosques were partially damaged. Historic and cultural sites including the Omari Mosque, Pasha’s Palace, al-Samra Bathhouse, Barquq Castle and the Qarara Cultural Museum were also damaged in the attacks.
