"The Oldest Islamic Mosque Destroyed" Hamas Releases Video

After BBC Video Analysis: "It Is Al Omari Mosque"
"Over 100 Heritage Sites Destroyed by Israeli Airstrikes"

The Palestinian armed group Hamas released footage claiming that the oldest Islamic mosque in the Gaza Strip was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike.

According to reports from the British BBC and others on the 9th (local time), Hamas posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) on the 8th showing the collapse of the Al-Omari Grand Mosque located in Jabaliya in northern Gaza Strip.

The Al Omari Grand Mosque destroyed in the Israeli airstrike.
[Photo by X]

The mosque in the video was mostly destroyed, leaving only rubble. The only recognizable part remaining was the minaret.

Hamas condemned Israel for committing a "vicious and barbaric crime," while Israel did not respond to the accusation.

BBC verified the video content and confirmed that the Al-Omari Grand Mosque was indeed destroyed.

The Omari Mosque was built on the site of a 7th-century Orthodox church. It was named after Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. The Omari Mosque had been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt due to conflicts, wars, and earthquakes in the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Strip Department of Antiquities accused Israel of bombing historical and archaeological sites in the region and urged UNESCO to assist in protecting these sites.

On the other hand, Israel argued that Hamas hides military bases underground in civilian infrastructure such as mosques, schools, and hospitals, leaving them no choice but to carry out airstrikes.

According to a preliminary report by the Catalan NGO "Heritage for Peace," more than 100 cultural landmarks and heritage sites have been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

Among these are the Church of Saint Porphyrius, considered the third oldest church in the world, as well as the Uthman Mosques and Sayed Hashem Mosques.

Isber Sabrine, a Syrian archaeologist and chairperson of Heritage for Peace, stated, "This report clearly demonstrates not only the importance of Gaza Strip's heritage but also the urgent need for its protection."