Hundreds Of Historical Sites, Archaeology And Artifacts In Gaza Were Destroyed By Israeli Attacks

Israeli military land operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Hundreds of historical and archaeological sites as well as artifacts were destroyed by Israel's deadly attack on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian NGO Israel said earlier this week.

"We call on the Israeli government to take all possible measures to fulfill its obligations in accordance with international law, to protect cultural heritage sites and cultural wealth in Gaza," NGO Emek Shaveh said in a statement.

"We remind all parties that the use of cultural sites for military purposes can be considered a war crime based on international law," he continued.

Gaza is known to have hundreds of heritage sites, including antique sites, historic buildings, museums, cultural centers, archives, monuments and libraries.

Israeli NGOs say 60 percent of heritage sites have been badly damaged or destroyed by Israeli war, including major historical sites such as the al-Omari Mosque and St. Church. Porphyrious.

The statement came after a video showed an official from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) accompanying the Israeli army to examine a collection of antiques in Gaza and seemed to be celebrating the discovery of the site.

"We want to reiterate that the heritage site in Gaza belongs to the Gaza community," said the NGO.

"However, the shocking level of destruction to historic sites in Gaza is not only a huge loss to the people of Gaza and Palestine, but also to all those who live and share this land," he said.

Last month, Gaza's state media office said more than 200 archaeological sites and the history of 325 registered sites were damaged and destroyed by Israeli attacks in the region since October 7.

"The ancient and archaeological sites destroyed by the army date back to theTORic and Roman times, others from between 800 BC and 1,400 BC, while others were built 400 years ago," he said in a statement.

Other sites damaged by the Israeli attack were the Byzantine church in Jabalia, the Al-Khadir Temple in Deir al-Balah City in the central Gaza Strip, and the Byzantine Blakhiya funeral (Anthedon Palestine), northwest of Gaza City, the 400-year-old Al-Saqqa House and the Sayed al-Hashim Mosque, which is one of Gaza's oldest mosques.

Separately, Geneva-based human rights group Euro-Med Monitor said on November 20, Israel deliberately destroyed archaeological monuments and history in the Gaza Strip, accusing it of "explicitly targeting Palestinian cultural heritage."

It is known that Gaza is an ancient and historic city that is under the rule of several kingdoms and civilizations, including Pharaoh, Greece, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic times.