New Delhi: Recent posts on X (formerly Twitter) have drawn attention to two deeply controversial incidents in Khan Yunis, Gaza. The first shows footage of Israeli forces allegedly detonating the ancient Greater Mosque, while another clip, reportedly from an Israeli soldiers GoPro camera, captures scenes of Quran copies being set ablaze inside a mosque. These events have ignited widespread outrage, triggering intense discussions across social media platforms.Israeli army detonates the ancient Greater Mosque in Khan Yunis, Gaza.Also, Israeli soldiers GoPro captures the raiding of a mosque and the burning of all Quran copies inside. pic.twitter.com/fjdpZSCCjj— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 24, 2024Large number of religious sites faced severe damage in GazaBetween 7 October, the start of Israels military campaign, and 31 December, 117 religious sites were reportedly damaged or destroyed. Of these 74 cases, including 72 mosques and two churches were verified a BBC report claimed. This wave of destruction comes in the wake of Hamass unprecedented assault on 7 October, which led to Israels offensive. In contrast to these numbers, Hamas, the ruling Palestinian Islamist group in Gaza, claimed that as of 9 January, 378 mosques and three churches had been hit. However, these figures remain unverified by independent sources.IDF responds to allegationsThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have maintained that Hamas fighters are utilizing places of worship as cover and launching points for attacks, a claim that Hamas denies. When questioned by the BBC about specific strikes, including those on the Khalil Al-Rahman and Khalid bin Al-Waleed mosques in Khan Yunis, the IDF stated that they had targeted locations used for terrorist purposes but did not provide further specifics.The toll on Gazas Christians, MuslimsSt. Porphyrius Church, one of the worlds oldest churches and a significant religious site in Gaza, has also come under threat. Gazas small Christian community, which numbered around 1,000 before the conflict, has deep roots in the land. St. Porphyrius, a 5th-century bishop in Gaza, was laid to rest beneath the church that bears his name, which has become one of the few remaining Christian sites in the territory.Muslims in Gaza are also suffering. Many mosques have been reduced to rubble, forcing Palestinian Muslims to seek refuge elsewhere. In Khan Yunis, the Khalil Al-Rahman mosque, which had reportedly been struck in an air raid, sustained significant damage. This mosque had been a place of spiritual devotion for locals like Renad Alaa al-Bataa, who regularly attended to study and memorize the Quran. However, since the war began, she has not returned.During a brief ceasefire in November, a muezzin from the same mosque improvised a minaret and called the faithful to prayer five times daily from atop what was left of the mosque. Despite the destruction, the call to prayer persisted.Widespread impact of mosque destructionOne of the most powerful visuals to emerge from Khan Yunis is a video capturing the rapid demolition of Khalid bin Al-Waleed mosque. This footage, now viewed nearly 15 million times on X, highlights the devastating impact on religious and cultural heritage.As the conflict continues, religious sites in Gaza remain at risk. The destruction of these places of worship has become a focal point for ongoing debates and investigations, with both sides presenting differing narratives of the events. The implications of these incidents reverberate across the globe, raising questions about the preservation of cultural and religious heritage amid war.
