Assessing the Damage to Religious Sites during the Israel-Gaza Conflict

Gaza, a region home to some of the oldest churches and mosques in the world, has experienced significant damage to its religious sites during Israel's military offensive. Out of 117 religious sites reportedly affected between October 7th and December 31st, the BBC has verified 74 cases, with 72 mosques and 2 churches impacted. The investigation utilized satellite imagery and user-generated content to analyze evidence before and after the attacks. Hamas, the ruling Palestinian Islamist group in Gaza, claims that 378 mosques and 3 churches were hit, but this figure has not been independently confirmed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) argues that Hamas fighters are using places of worship as cover and launching points for attacks, a claim Hamas denies. St. Porphyrius, believed to be one of the oldest churches in the world, is one of several Christian churches in Gaza affected by the conflict. Many Palestinian Christians sought refuge within the church grounds, but on October 19th, an Israeli missile struck an outer building, killing 18 people and injuring many others. International humanitarian law deems the intentional targeting of religious buildings during conflict as a war crime, unless the sites are used for military purposes. The IDF says that while the church was not the intended target of the strike, its grounds were hit. Evidence shared online suggests that Israeli soldiers may have disrespected the sanctity of religious places and glorified destruction. Dr. Georgia Andreou from the Institute of Archaeology at University College London characterizes the destruction of heritage sites in Gaza, including religious sites, as the worst she has ever seen. While many mosques in Gaza have been razed, Palestinian Muslims are choosing to seek refuge away from their places of worship. The destruction of religious sites in Gaza has led many Palestinians to hold onto their faith as a spiritual support system.