Israel’s Gaza Genocide: Counting the Destruction of Religious Sites, Properties, and Killings

Gaza (Quds News Network)- Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs has documented the destruction of religious sites and properties, as well as the killings and detentions, during the Israeli genocide in the enclave.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of said the Israeli occupation has “targeted not just people, but also buildings, trees, and infrastructure, destroying places of worship, homes, service facilities, and economic institutions” during its 15-month genocide.

The religious and endowment sector has suffered severe damage, with mosques, cemeteries, endowment properties, administrative offices, and religious centers being destroyed. The total estimated cost of the damage to the religious and endowment sector exceeds (500 million) dollars, according to the Ministry.

Mosques

Israeli targeted 1,109 mosques, either fully or partially destroyed, out of 1,244 mosques in Gaza, accounting for 89%.

Of these, (834) mosques were completely destroyed, reduced to rubble, and 275 mosques sustained severe damage, rendering them unusable. This has had a direct impact on the performance of religious rituals and prayers.

The Ministry said Israel’s crimes extended to bombing mosques and prayer sites while worshippers were present, as what happened at the al-Tabe’in prayer hall in a school in Gaza City.

Israel also destroyed historic mosques, including the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City.

Churches

Israel also completely destroyed 3 churches in Gaza City.

Cemeteries

The deceased were not spared from Israel’s brutality, the Ministtry noted. 40 cemeteries, out of a total of 60, were targeted. 21 cemeteries were completely destroyed, and 19 were partially damaged. The aggression also included exhuming graves, stealing the bodies of the deceased and martyrs, and desecrating them in “barbaric ways.”

Properties

Israel destroyed 643 endowment properties.

Additionally, religious education and da’wah institutions were targeted, disrupting their services and affecting thousands of students and beneficiaries. Around 30 religious institutions were impacted.

The Israeli occupation also targeted 30 administrative offices, including the ministry’s headquarters and the Quran Radio headquarters.

Israel destroyed 20 ministry vehicles, both totally and partially.

Martyrs and Detainees

The number of martyrs from the Ministry of Endowments’ staff, preachers, and imams reached 315, and 27 people were abducted.

Despite the intensity of the assault, the Ministry said it never stopped fulfilling their duties. They exerted every effort to continue their role, including establishing more than 400 temporary prayer sites across Gaza, particularly in displacement camps, in partnership with charitable institutions to ensure the continuation of prayers and Quran memorization sessions, launching and implementing projects to support preachers, Quran teachers, and students, enabling them to carry out their religious and Quranic duties during the war.