Israeli strike destroys historic Gaza mosque, artifacts salvaged
Palestinian volunteers recover rare books and architectural remains as Israeli attacks continue to devastate Gaza’s cultural heritage
DEIR AL-BALAH, Palestine (MNTV) — Palestinian heritage workers and municipal teams are racing to rescue historic artifacts from Abu Salim Mosque in central Gaza after an Israeli airstrike largely destroyed the decades-old religious landmark.
Volunteers from the Palestinian Heritage Guardians and workers from the local municipality are searching through the mosque’s rubble in Deir al-Balah, recovering carved stonework, ornamental marble fragments and rare books from its damaged library, Anadolu reported.
The salvaged materials are being moved to secure locations in an effort to protect what remains of the mosque’s cultural heritage and preserve the possibility of restoration.
The destruction has further highlighted the damage inflicted on Gaza’s religious and cultural sites during Israel’s devastating military bombardment.
Historic mosques, libraries and other landmarks have faced destruction or severe damage alongside homes and civilian infrastructure.
Constructed in 1951, Abu Salim Mosque had stood for roughly 75 years and incorporated architectural influences from both Ottoman and Egyptian traditions. Beyond its religious role, it served as an important cultural gathering place for residents of the area.
The effort to recover its artifacts reflects attempts by Palestinians to preserve traces of their history amid widespread destruction. Workers are collecting surviving materials before further deterioration or the collapse of damaged structures makes recovery more difficult.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israeli attacks have killed 1,296 Palestinians and wounded 4,296 since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on Oct. 10, 2025.
Since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,000 wounded, according to the ministry.
The damage to Abu Salim Mosque adds to growing concerns over the loss of Gaza’s religious, architectural and cultural heritage, as Palestinians struggle to preserve historical artifacts amid the continuing devastation by Israel’s military genocide.
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