Ramallah, Nov 11.- Israel destroyed more than 300 archaeological sites in the Gaza Strip during its two years of attacks, in an attempt to erase the historical identity of Palestinians and their roots, reported the newspaper Al Quds today.
“The cultural memory of the Gaza Strip was not spared from the Israeli destruction machinery that affected all aspects of life” during the military campaign, emphasized the publication.
The report highlighted that the deliberate attacks devastated many historical monuments from different eras.
Several official organizations are trying to begin restoring what remains, despite the severe shortage of resources and equipment, it lamented.
As an example, it cited the destruction of the Pasha Palace, built during the reign of the Mamluk Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars, along with ancient historical pieces that adorned the halls of its prestigious museum.
According to an official cited by Al Quds, the facility contained more than 17,000 artifacts before the invasion, but he reported that the Army stole a large part of the contents, belonging to Byzantine, Roman, Islamic, and Ottoman periods.
The newspaper also condemned the destruction of the Great Mosque of Omari, one of the oldest in the Strip, and the remains of the Al-Samra baths, which date back to the Ottoman period.
In February, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported that 226 archaeological and historical sites in Gaza were damaged as a result of the attacks.
Of the total sites analyzed, 138 suffered major damage, 61 were moderately affected, and another 27 were only lightly impacted, specified the ministry in a report.
Titled “Inventory of Damage and Risks to Cultural Heritage Sites in Gaza,” the document was prepared in collaboration with the Center for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Oxford University.
According to the text, numerous heritage and religious buildings, museums, historical cemeteries, cultural centers, natural sites, and monuments were damaged during the Israeli attacks.
