Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Gaza’s historic landmarks, including the Great Omari Mosque, lie in ruins after years of conflict and the recent Israel-Hamas war. The mosque, a place of worship for centuries, once thrived with families visiting the lively nearby markets. Now, locals like Muneer Elbaz recall the joy of those days while seeing the destruction caused by airstrikes.
The war, which killed over 72,000 Palestinians and displaced thousands, has left many historical sites badly damaged. The Great Omari Mosque, originally built on a Byzantine church site, has been destroyed in parts, with its prayer hall ceiling collapsed and columns crumbled. Restoration work is ongoing, but construction materials are limited due to the blockade.
Other sites, including the Pasha Palace, Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church, and Hamam al-Sumara bathhouse, also suffered major damage. Valuable artifacts, such as Ottoman-era manuscripts, Mamluk-era jewelry, and Roman-era relics, were looted or destroyed. UNESCO reports at least 150 heritage sites damaged during the war.
The Israeli military stated it targeted Hamas military positions allegedly located near these sites, including tunnels under the Omari Mosque, but independent U.N. investigations found no evidence of such tunnels.
Experts warn that preserving Gaza’s cultural heritage is vital to maintaining Palestinian identity. “These sites represent the continuity of our cultural history,” said Issam Juha, co-director of the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation.
Despite the destruction, some landmarks like the Saint Hilarion Monastery survived. Recovery teams are sifting through rubble, storing stones, and salvaging what remains. Many residents, like Mohammad Shareef, express deep grief for the loss of heritage that has shaped their lives for generations.
With Ramadan approaching, locals mourn the absence of traditional gatherings at the mosque. Palestinians continue to work amid ruins, hoping to preserve what remains of Gaza’s centuries-old history.
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