Israeli forces destroyed 1,000 mosques, dozens of cemeteries since October 7 : Ministry

Israeli forces have destroyed at least 1,000 mosques during their ongoing genocidal war against the Gaza Strip while desecrating dozens of cemeteries, the territory’s officials say.

The Palestinian Information Center quoted Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs as providing the information in a statement on Sunday.

“The Israeli occupation forces have destroyed more than 1,000 out of 1,200 mosques in the territory since October 7 last year,” the Ministry said, adding that reconstruction of those mosques would cost around $500 million.

The Palestinian Ministry added that the Israeli aggression has also destroyed a number of churches across Gaza, including the historical Greek Orthodox Church, as well as Zakat religious committees, schools for teaching the holy Qur’an, and the headquarters of the Endowment Bank.

Israeli forces have assassinated more than 100 religious scholars, preachers, imams, and muezzins who announce the Muslim call to prayer, since the onset of their military onslaught, the report noted.

In the same context, the Ministry pointed out that the Israeli aggression has led to desecration and destruction of dozens of cemeteries and graves where dead bodies were stolen in clear violation of all international laws and human rights.

The regime began its military aggression against Gaza on October 7, 2023 following Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the territory’s resistance movements. More than 25,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been massacred in the Israeli military onslaught so far, while over 62,600 others have been injured.