As part of its 108-day genocide war, the Israeli occupation carried out horrific destruction of religious sites and institutions and assassinated dozens of imams and preachers.
The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in Gaza announced Sunday that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have destroyed more than 1,000 out of 1,200 mosques in the enclave since October 7 last year.
According to a statement, the reconstruction of these mosques will cost around $500 million.
The Ministry added that the Israeli forces assassinated more than 100 scholars, preachers, imams, and muezzins since the ongoing war on the besieged enclave started on October 7.
In the same context, the Ministry pointed out that the Israeli aggression led to “the destruction of dozens of cemeteries and graves where dead bodies were stolen in clear violation of international constitutions and human rights.”
The Ministry said the Israeli forces destroyed the Greek Orthodox Church and Zakat committees, schools for teaching the Quran and the HQ of the Endowment Bank.
The Ministry reported that the Gaza cemeteries were completely filled, forcing locals to bury the dead in public places such as side walks, homes, markets, schools, and hospital courtyards.
The statement contains horrifying facts that obviously violate the right to freedom of religion and worship, which is protected by international human rights law.
Moreover; the systematic destruction of religious sites represents an attack on the cultural heritage of the Palestinian people, which constitutes a violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
Preacher assassinations also constitute political and religious killings, which runs counter to the right to life and personal safety guaranteed by the two International Covenants on Human Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Destroying cemeteries and digging up graves is an act that is blatantly disrespectful of human dignity and goes beyond all moral and legal bounds.
The international community and human rights organizations must intervene to ensure effective investigation and accountability for these violations, provide protection for religious places and those working in them, support reconstruction efforts, and provide the required care for those impacted by these attacks.
