AhlulBayt News Agency: Palestinians in the Gaza Strip performed the first Friday prayer of Ramadan amid the ruins of mosques and destroyed buildings, enduring severe living conditions and a critical shortage of food, while Israeli forces continued bombardment and demolition across multiple areas.
Worshippers gathered around the remains of demolished mosques, praying atop the rubble and listening to sermons centered on patience, resilience, and unity.
According to Al Jazeera, the Al-Kanz Mosque in Gaza City has become a symbol of steadfastness, as residents from surrounding neighborhoods converged there to pray, reflecting their determination to maintain religious practices despite siege and destruction.
Prayers were also held at damaged historic mosques such as Al-Omari, as well as in makeshift prayer spaces set up with tents and tarpaulins to replace destroyed houses of worship.
Observers say the large turnout for Friday and Taraweeh prayers demonstrates a collective resolve to preserve spiritual identity, even as Israel restricts the entry of construction materials and large tents, hindering efforts to rebuild mosques.
Field accounts indicate that after every escalation, Gazans routinely attempt to restore damaged mosques using basic tools, ensuring that communal prayers continue—an enduring tradition that reflects the persistence of religious life under siege.
The Ministry of Endowments in Gaza reported that Israeli forces have destroyed 1,109 out of 1,244 mosques in the enclave, either fully or partially, during the latest war.
A ceasefire ended a two-year war that, according to official Palestinian data, killed 72,069 Palestinians and injured 171,728 others, while destroying nearly 90% of civilian infrastructure. The UN estimates reconstruction costs at around $70 billion—one of the most extensive waves of destruction Gaza has ever faced.
/129
Your Comment