Ramadan in Gaza begins with seige , attacks and hunger. People of Gaza performed first taraweeh prayers in the ruins of destroyed mosques .
Gaza is home to some of the oldest churches and mosques in the world, but many have not escaped the widespread destruction of Israel’s military offensive.
Of 117 religious sites which were reportedly damaged or destroyed from 7 October, when Israel’s campaign began till 31 December 2023, the BBC has verified 74 cases. Seventy-two are mosques and two are churches. Israel’s offensive was triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on 7 October.
In its investigation, the BBC used satellite imagery and user generated content to examine evidence from both before and after buildings were hit.
In a statement, Hamas – the Palestinian Islamist group which rules Gaza – said 378 mosques and three churches had been hit up to 9 January, though this figure has not been independently verified.
Meanwhile Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his defence, national security and finance ministers to open up space in Israeli prisons in preparation for the arrests of “thousands” more Palestinians this year.