The Second Preliminary Report on the Cultural Sector Damage

War on Gaza Strip, October 7th - December 6th, 2023

Introduction
The war against our people in Gaza continues, and their resilience
persists despite the daily crimes committed by the occupation. This
blind war spares nothing and disregards all human values, ethics, andinternational laws. The essence of this war is rooted in the attempt toeradicate and erase our people, to displace and expel them. Therefore,
it targets everything in the Gaza Strip, devastating all aspects of life,
from humans to buildings, trees, and water sources. During this genocidal war, all aspects of life are targeted without exception. As usual,the cultural life of the country is targeted as part of this relentless war
against our people, which essentially aims to complete the Nakba planthat began in 1948. The grandson of the gang’s soldier who bombed
the Red Cinema in Jaffa seventy-five years ago destroyed the Rashad
Al-Shawwa Center in Gaza, and the same mentality that targeted the
National Museum in Jerusalem during the Nakba days later targeted
the Qarara Museum and the “Museum” afterward. The war on culture
has always been at the heart of the aggressors’ war on our people,
as the real war is a war on the narrative to steal the land and its richtreasures of knowledge, history, and civilization, along with the stories
it holds.
Our people, who gifted the world with the first alphabet in history andshaped its meanings and means of communication, have witnessed
the rise of religions and the enlightenment of humanity from the radiance of their ethics. They will undoubtedly continue to contribute tohuman civilization, restoring joy and hope, elevating through singing,music, poetry, novels, stories, and tales rooted in the ever-evolving
consciousness, culture, and thought of the land of the first stories.

Dr. Atef Abu SaifGaza

Summary
The Israeli occupation’s unprecedented bombardment, which targeted
all aspects of history and the present in the Gaza Strip, including historical buildings, mosques, churches, cultural institutions, and museums
that carry the history, heritage, and authenticity of the place, bears witness to the Palestinian people’s right to existence. It also bears witness
to attempts to obliterate it. This war has affected artists, intellectuals,
and writers who have lost family members and loved ones. Like morethan half of Gaza’s population, they were forced to flee from north tosouth, leaving behind their homes, possessions, and memories. They
left behind their libraries, literary legacies, rituals, musical instruments,
and tools that constitute the foundation of their work and livelihood. They
lost their livelihoods and temporarily lost the compass of their future,
which has become unknown under this fierce aggression on the Gaza
Strip. Among them are musicians who have lost their ability to listen andartists who have lost their hands and limbs. Nevertheless, some continue
to create melodies for songs depicting the displaced’s suffering in Gaza.
Gaza has always given us hope amidst the wars waged by the Israeli occupation over the past years, targeting even children. The Israeli
bombardment did not differentiate between safe civilian homes, educational and cultural buildings, healthcare facilities, and humanitarian
services. It even deprived the Gaza Strip of medicines, food, water, andfuel, all of which are essential for sustaining life. All of this is the bitter
result of a suffocating blockade lasting more than sixteen years.
Despite the difficulty of obtaining comprehensive and precise information about the losses suffered by the Palestinian people in the Gaza
Strip, this report attempts to provide an overview of what we have beenable to access. The cultural scene in the region has been subjected tomulti-layered attacks. We have lost many creative individuals in various
fields, including children and adults. Twenty-eight people, including fourchildren, were known to have been martyred. Many others were injured,
including artist Amer Abu As’ad from the “Nashama Al-Badia” group,
who lost his son during this aggression. The poet Musab Abu Tuha wasalso injured, abducted by the Israeli forces, subjected to beatings, andhad his passports, family, and credit cards confiscated.

"The Cultural Sector Two Months After the War on the
Gaza Strip"
Martyrs

Bombing

Partial or

Bombing, Destruc-

Destructionof thePublishingCompletetion, and Damage toand Damage to

CulturalHouses andDamage to

Historical Buildings

Media and Art

Sector

Libraries

Cultural(Churches, Mosques,

Production

Centers

Twen-“All of them,ty-eight,

twenty-one ofincludingNinewhich werefour

identified as

childrencenters.”

Museums, andStudios andArchaeological Sites)

Companies

TwentyThree

In addition to destroying most parts of the old town of Gaza City,
including dozens of historical buildings.

What also confirms the Israeli occupation's targeting of Palestinian
culture and heritage is the statement made by the so-called Israeli
Minister of Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu, who called for the bombingof Gaza with a nuclear bomb. This was considered by the Ministerof Culture, Dr. Atef Abu Saif, as a reflection of the nature of this
occupation and the terrorist Israeli government's call for the extermination and complete displacement of the Palestinian people, as
they are currently doing in the Gaza Strip. This is in addition to thewar being waged by the occupation army and settlers in the WestBank against the Palestinians, wherever they may be. It is worth
noting that Minister Abu Saif has been trapped in the Gaza Strip
since the start of the war, like many others who were not allowed
to leave, and he has lost many relatives due to the bombing.

A look at the cultural reality in the Gaza Strip(2022 statistics) before the war.”

Cultural

Theaters

centers

Participants in

PublicPublishingcultural activities

libraries

houses,annually

distribution,andbookstores

Seventy-Six

Three

Two Hundred andTwenty thousand

Eightyfifteen

The Living Martyrs in the Cultural Sector

Student of violin(musical instrument)

Lubna Alian
Lubna Mahmoud Alian (15 years old), a violin student at the Edward Said National conservatory of Music in Gaza, was martyredon November 21, along with more than fifty members of her family. Lubna was one of the outstanding students at the institute,
singing and playing music for joy and life. She saw music as her
future, a means to represent her people and her country in Palestinian, Arab, and international orchestras.

Journalist

Bilal Jadallah
Journalist Bilal Jadallah (45 years old), the director of the Press
House and the head of the cultural salon, was martyred on
November 19 while he was evacuating to the south to join his
family in Khan Yunis, who had evacuated before him. The martyr Jadallah played a significant role in hosting journalists andtraining and graduating professionals capable of conveying thetruth and continuing this journey under the difficult, complex,
and harsh conditions that the Gaza Strip constantly faces. He
also connected journalism with culture and heritage, activating
its role in supporting intellectuals and creatives. He establishedthe cultural salon for discussing cultural issues and initiatives.

Professor Dr.

Sufian Taieh
Dr. Sufian Taieh (52 years old), the president of the Islamic
University, along with his family, was martyred in the massacrein the Faluja area in Jabalia, northern Gaza, on December 2.
Professor Taieh holds a professorship in theoretical physics
and applied mathematics. He has received the Abdul Hameed
Shoman Award for Young Arab Scientists and many other scientific awards. He has made significant contributions toscientific studies and research annually published inprestigious scientific journals. In 2023, he was appointed
holder of the UNESCO Chair in Physics and Astrophysics
and Space Science in Palestine.

Writer and Journalist

Mustafa Al-Sawwaf‫ا‬Writer and journalist Mustafa Hassan Mahmoud Al-Sawwaf(68 years old) and several members of his family were martyred due to the Israeli occupation’s shelling of his home ineastern Gaza in mid-November. Al-Sawwaf is one of the mostprominent Palestinian journalists and analysts, with hundredsof writings and analyses on Palestinian political affairs. He
served as the editor-in-chief of several newspapers and was
the first editor-in-chief of the first daily newspaper published in
the Gaza Strip, which he also founded.

Photographer

Marwan Tarazi
Photographer Marwan Tarazi, along with several members of
his family, was martyred during the Israeli aggression on the
Orthodox Church of Porphyrius in Gaza on October 20. He was
known as the “visual historian of Gaza.” He had preserved its
history through thousands of photographs taken over decades,
including the old photographs of the historic Gaza photographer“Kegham.” Marwan Tarazi continued his work in the city before
and after the Nakba, capturing images of the Khan Yunis
massacres and the Israeli army’s withdrawal in 1956, whichwere the only rare images at the time.

Creative TalentTala Balousha
Asayel Watan Group

Creative talent Tala Mohammad Balousha (17 years old), a
member of the Asayel Watan folk dance group, was martyredon October 22, along with her mother, after her family wasmartyred during the shelling. Tala was mourned by many.

Writer

Abdullah Al-Aqad
Writer Abdullah Al-Aqad, with his wife and children were martyredon October 16 by the bombardment of his house in KhanYounis
city. His latest post on social media was: “after today there won’t
be any immigration, all respect to the people of Al-Shate’ Refugee camp and Al-Jala’ neighborhood who demonstrated stressing
they are staying at their homes to the end”.

ArtistTha’er Al-Taweel
The visual artist Tha’er Al-Taweel (43 years old) and the headof the Visual Arts Forum, along with his family, were martyred in
the Israeli bombardment on November 23. One of his prominent
works released through the forum was a mural titled “For Jerusalem” and another mural titled “Freedom Seizure” in solidarity
with the prisoners in the occupation’s jails.

Writer

Abdul Karim Hashash
The writer and Palestinian heritage advocate Abdul Karim
Al-Hashash (76 years old), along with many of his family
members, was martyred on October 23 in the city of Rafah.
Al-Hashash was known for his writings on Palestinian folk
heritage and his research on Bedouin heritage, customs, andArab proverbs. He also collected dozens of rare books about
Palestine, its history, and its heritage in his library.

Historian Dr.

Jihad Al-Masri
Dr. Jihad Suleiman Al-Masri (60 years old) passed away on
October 17, succumbing to his injuries from the Israeli shelling of Khan Yunis. He was on his way to join his wife anddaughter. Al-Masri was a historian and university professor
whose contributions spanned generations. He served as the
director of Al-Quds Open University’s Khan Yunis branch. He
had numerous research publications in Islamic history andPalestinian oral traditions in Arab and international journals.

Writer Dr.

Said Al-Dahshan
The writer, Said Talal Al-Dahshan, and his family were martyredon October 11. Al-Dahshan was an expert in international law
and had authored many works and research specialized in Palestinian affairs.

ArtistMahmoud Al-Jubairi(Al-Nabtashi)
The renowned folk artist Mahmoud Al-Jubairi, known as AlNabtashi, from Gaza, was martyred. It is presumed that he wasmartyred in mid-October. He had a significant presence in various
national and social events.”

Visual Artist

Heba Zaqout
The visual artist and fine arts teacher, Heba Ghazi Ibrahim
Zaqout (39 years old), and her son were martyred on October
13th. Just days before her martyrdom, she recorded a video
showcasing her paintings and spoke about her works and her
dream of organizing an art exhibition to display her creativity.
Her work often depicted women, the homeland, nature, and thebond between mothers and their children. She has now departed, along with her son...

Writer and Poet

Heba Abu Nada
The writer and poet, Heba Kamal Saleh Abu Nada (24 years
old), was martyred on October 20th. She was a refugee from thedisplaced and destroyed village of Beit Jirja in 1948. She wrote
stories, novels, and poetry. Her last post on social media read,‘We, up here, are building another city, doctors without patientsor blood, professors without crowds... New families without painor sorrow, journalists capturing paradise, and poets writing eternal love, all from Gaza. A new Gaza without a siege in paradise
is forming now.’

ArtistAli Nasman
The artist, media personality, and influencer Ali Abdullah Hassan
Nasman (38 years old) was martyred on October 13th. He continued to document and appear in video clips discussing what
was happening in Gaza under bombardment until the very last
moments. The martyr was also an actor who played various roles
in Palestinian TV series.

Poet

Omar Abu Shaweesh
The poet Omar Faris Abu Shaweesh (36 years old) was martyredon October 7th during the shelling of the Nuseirat refugee camp in
Gaza. He was a prominent community activist and made various
contributions in social, youth, cultural, and intellectual spheres.
He co-founded several youth associations and organizations
and received the Outstanding Arab Youth Award from the Arab
Youth Council for Integrated Development, affiliated with the Arab
League.

‫الفنانة‬‫حليمة الكحلوت‬ArtistHalima Al-Kahlout
The artist Halima Abdul Karim Al-Kahlout (29 years old) was martyred on October 30th. She was known among her friends as the‘Fruit of the Workshops’ due to her perpetual playfulness andspontaneity. Her last exhibition, titled ‘Fragments of the City,’ took
place last summer, where she showcased her art. Now, she has
become a part of these fragments and has departed.

ArtistInas Al-Saqa
Inas Mohammed Al-Saqa (53 years old) was martyred on October
31st, along with her daughters Sara and Leen and her son Ibrahim. She was an artist specializing in visual arts and theatre. She
worked extensively in children’s theatre and was among the firstartists in the theatre scene in Gaza. Her last post on social media
read, ‘Sometimes you look back to get a glimpse of your past...
and you discover that you emerged alive from a massacre...’ArtistMohammed Qaryeqa
The artist Mohammed Sami Qaryeqa (24 years old) wasmartyred on October 18th. He was an artist and painter who
attempted to integrate technology with art and illustrated
scenes from daily life. His last post on social media featured
a famous video of children playing in the garden of the Baptist
Hospital in Gaza just one day before it was bombed by the
Israeli occupation, resulting in a horrific massacre with 500
martyrs and dozens of wounded. Up until the last moments, he
tried to alleviate the anxiety and psychological stress experienced
by children and patients in the hospital through his art.

Artist and Writer

Yusuf Dawas
The young artist and writer Yusuf Dawas, who was also a
guitarist and active participant in the ‘We Are Not Numbers’
initiative documenting the suffering of the Palestinian people
under Israeli occupation, was martyred. He wrote in both Arabic
and English and produced several videos discussing various
topics, including his dream of traveling and exploring the world,a dream that many young people in Gaza Harbor, especiallygiven the more than sixteen years of the blockade imposed onthem by the Israeli occupation.

ArtistNesma Abu Sha’ira
The visual artist Nesma Abu
Sha’ira (36 years old) wasmartyred on October 28th.
She was a lecturer and headof the Fine Arts Department
at Al-Aqsa University. One ofher most famous paintings
depicted the olive tree, whoseroots reach worldwide.

Community Activist

Iman Abu Saeed
Iman Khalid Abu Saeed, along with her children Joudi and Ziyad
and her husband Eyad, were martyred. They were forced to leave
their home in Tal al-Hawa. Iman was a symbol of cultural work andempowerment for children. One of her recent projects involved
collecting seashells from the beach, cleaning them, and creating
decorative items for homes. She also documented the days of theblockade in Gaza through oral history at the Tamer Institute forCommunity Education.

The two girls

Sham and Leila
from the Champions Dabke GroupSham Abu Obeid (8 years old) and Leila Abdel Fattah Al-Atarsh(8 years old), members of the Palestinian dabke group‘Champions,’ were martyred in Gaza.

ArtistTareq Dabban
The artist Tareq Ahmed Dabban was martyred on November
4th, along with his wife and children. His last post on his social
media account read, ‘The father has been martyred, and joy
has died. Where is your mournful voice, my father? And whereis the smile of my mother that left the house with your soul...
May God have mercy on them.’

Calligrapher

Mohannad Al-Agha
The artist Mohannad Amin Al-Agha (30 years old) wasmartyred on October 12th. He was a calligrapher, and oneof his specialties was square Kufic calligraphy and Diwani
script.

The Palestinian poet

Shahadah Al-Buhbahan
The Palestinian poet and educational researcher Shahdah
Al-Buhbahan (73 years old), along with his granddaughter,
was martyred in Gaza on November 6.

The poet

Nour al-Din Hajjaj
The poet and writer Nour al-Din Hajjaj was martyred on
December 3. Hajjaj actively participated in the “Cultural Passion”
initiative, the Cordoba Association, and the Days of Theater
Foundation.
One of the last things he wrote on his social media account was:“In Gaza, we witness an uncountable number of events everyday. When we retire to sleep, exhausted, we witness. When weare forced to leave our homes or rooftops, with every sound ofa rocket or a nearby explosion, we only say, ‘I bear witness that
there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allah.’ And we know that one of these times willbe the last thing we utter.”Cultural Institutions
Operating in the
Gaza Strip

Israeli forces bombed and destroyed nine publishing houses and libraries.

Israeli forces bombed and destroyed nine publishing houses andlibraries. They targeted and destroyed the Al-Shorouq Al-Daem
Library and Exhibition, the Samir Mansour Library in Gaza, theEnaim Library, the Al-Nahda Library, and the Lubbud Library. It’s
worth noting that the Samir Mansour Library had previously beentargeted during the Israeli aggression in 2021. Additionally, the
Al-Nur Cultural Center’s library, one of the oldest libraries in Gaza
located in the Rimal neighborhood, was also bombed. The Israeli
forces also targeted Diana Mari Sabagh’s library, part of the Rashad Al-Shawa Cultural Center, known for its cultural events andreading promotion campaigns, containing around twenty thousand books.

Furthermore, Israeli aircraft bombed the main public library, whichis part of the Gaza City Municipality buildings located on Unity
Street, housing hundreds of thousands of books. The bombing
resulted in the building catching fire and suffering significant damage. The Central Archives headquarters, located in the historicbuilding of the Gaza City Municipality, were also targeted. Thisbuilding contained documents dating back over a hundredyears related to municipal work in the city. Gaza City is thelargest city in the Gaza Strip and is situated 78 kilometers awayfrom Jerusalem.

Destruction of
the Arab Orthodox Cultural andSocial Center

The Israeli occupation forces’ aircraft bombed the building of
the center located in the Tal al-Hawa area in Gaza City, which
consisted of two floors, causing it to collapse completely. Itshould be noted that the building contained sports facilities andexhibition halls for organizing cultural and artistic activities.

The destruction of the Rashad
Al-Shawa Cultural Center (Center,
Theater, Library, and Printing Press)

The center was completely bombed and destroyed. It was
founded in 1985 in the Rimal neighborhood, one of the mostbeautiful neighborhoods in Gaza City. It is considered thefirst cultural center in Palestine, established in response to
the Israeli occupation’s policy of targeting culture, erasing
Palestinian heritage, and distorting the country’s identity.
The building, situated in the heart of Gaza, contains the mostsignificant and oldest theater hall, Tamari Sabagh Library,
and the printing presses of the charitable organization, all ofwhich suffered considerable damage and destruction fromthe bombing.

The Dar Al-Shabab Cultural andDevelopment Authority wasdamaged.

The institution located west of the Jabalia Palestinian refugee
camp was heavily shelled, consisting of three floors. Most of thethird floor collapsed, and the others were significantly damaged.

The General Union of Cultural
Centers was affected.
The General Union, located west of Gaza City, suffered significant damage. It is considered one of the most essential pillarsof organized cultural work and a constant supporter. Established in 1997, it includes more than 67 cultural institutions in
its membership and over 120 partner institutions.

The destruction of the Sununu
Foundation for Arts and Culture
occurred.
The institution is located on the southern street parallel to Al-Shifa Hospital in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, which was heavily targeted by the Israeli bombardment and wiped-out large parts of it.
The institution is considered one of the largest music institutionsin Palestine, containing hundreds of musical instruments andcompositions, including works by students and professors.

Destruction of “Our Children
Society for Development”
Center The institution is in Al-Ghafri Tower in the Al-Rimalneighborhood, providing care for over 120 children and dozens
of families. It organizes various cultural activities targeting children, women, and youth, especially in theater, art exhibitions,and cinema.

Destruction of Gaza Center for
Culture and Arts
The center is located on Al-Rimal Street in Gaza City and has
been dedicated since its establishment in 2005 to preserving
Palestinian identity and heritage. Among its notable events is
the Red-Carpet Film Festival, an art gallery for visual arts focusing
on visual and performing arts and literary activities.

Destruction of“Milad Association for Youth
Development”
The association is located at the intersection of Safatawi in thenorth of Gaza. It is known for its mobile psychological support
team that used to traverse the Gaza Strip, including its cities
and refugee camps, to support and enhance the mental healthof children. Additionally, it conducted activities to develop young
people and women by improving their digital and economic skills.

Destruction of “Hakawi”
Association for Culture and Arts
The association was founded in 2013 through the initiative of agroup of artists and civil society activists. It is one of the significant associations established for educational theater forchildren and has also contributed to adult theater. Drama has
been used as a tool for education and culture.

Destruction of the Palestinian
Association for Development andHeritage Protection
The association promotes traditional and heritage crafts andorganizes exhibitions for marketing and encouragement. The
association oversees the Palestinian Heritage Garden “Al-Karmel” in Beit Lahia, which serves as a place to display heritage
tools and for entertainment.

Shababik Professionals
It is a permanent exhibition for artists in Gaza, hosting various art exhibitions from all art schools. It serves as a gathering
place for artists to create new contemporary works of art.

Village of Arts and Crafts

Established in 1998, this village is part of Gaza Municipality. It
is an artistic exhibition that embodies the authenticity of Palestinian heritage, designed in a traditional Islamic style. It reflects
the ongoing siege and aggression by the Israeli occupation of
the city. The village is divided into rooms or houses for embroidery, woodworking, and antique brassware, with a beautiful
garden of palm trees and roses.

“Widad Theater” and Widad
Association for Community
Development

The association is in the Tel al-Hawa area of Gaza City, focusing on family care, elderly care, mother and childcare, and youth
through the Youth Leaders program and dedicating a programfor scientific research and training. The association also has awell-equipped theater with state-of-the-art lighting and soundsystems that accommodate more than three hundred people.

“Rafida Suhail’s Artist Studio”“Es’ad Childhood Center”
A cultural and educational center dedicated to children, featuring an amusement park affiliated with Gaza Municipality. The
center has worked for years on developing children’s creative
and artistic skills, enhancing their cognitive aspects, and maintaining the psychological well-being of children and their environment.

“Bayader Theater and Arts
Association”
Located in the Tel al-Hawa, it started as a theater group and wasfounded in 1994. Some of its notable plays include “The Clown,”“Abu Arab in Your Lane,” “Black and White,” and dozens of theatrical works that enriched the theater scene in the region

“Iltiqa’ Gallery for Contemporary
Visual Arts”

Located on Omar Al-Mukhtar Street in the heart of Gaza City, it
is an initiative by young artists in Gaza to establish a permanent
exhibition for visual arts. It serves as a place for education, training, cultural and artistic dialogue, and a platform for discovering,
nurturing, and encouraging creative talents. One of its prominent
projects is the “Contemporary Arts Program,” which allows young
artists to present their artistic projects, receive necessary training, and launch their works.

“Kana’an Educational
Development Institute”

Established in 1997, a community institution with cultural andeducational objectives, it houses a rich community library in
the Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. Its notable programs
include training, early childhood education, and psychologicalsupport.

Significant damage tomedia and artistic
production companies
such as Mashariq Company, in its new headquarters, which
was opened in August last year and is in the Tel al-Hawa areaof Gaza City, which was previously bombed and destroyed.
Other affected studios include Asayel Studios and Mix andMatch Studios.

Museums andHistorical
Buildings

Destruction of Eight Museums
Israeli occupation aircraft bombed the Rafah Museum, which wasdestroyed during its aggression on the Gaza Strip. The museum
housed hundreds of artifacts related to ancient Palestinian heritage, including clothing and antique tools reflecting the culture ofBedouins, farmers, and city dwellers. It also showcased significant
Palestinian heritage costumes collected by Mrs. Suheila Shahin.

Israeli occupation airstrikes also targeted and destroyed the Cultural Kararah Museum (established in 1958) and its collection in
the Gaza Strip. The bombings caused severe interior damage tothe museum, including ceiling cracks, shattered glass windowsof the heritage building, and the destruction of display cabinets
containing archaeological artifacts.
The Khan Yunis Museum was also bombed and destroyed, alongwith the damage to the Akkad Museum, Shahwan Museum, andKhudari Museum. Ibrahim Abu Sha’ar Heritage Diwan, locatedeast of Rafah, was destroyed, including its extensive collection ofBedouin heritage.

Destruction of the Churchof Saint Porphyrius

The Church of Saint Porphyrius is the third oldest church in theworld and one of the most senior Christian archaeological sites,
located in the center of Gaza. It dates back to 407 AD, and the airstrikes resulted in the martyrdom of 18 Christians who were inside
the church. The church is situated just 230 meters away from the
Al-Muqadassi Hospital, which was also targeted and destroyed
by Israeli occupation aircraft in a massacre that claimed the livesof hundreds.

Damage to the Sayyid Hashim
MosqueThis mosque is the burial
place of the grandfather of
the Prophet Muhammad;
peace be upon him. The
Sheikh Abdullah Mosque,built during the Mamluk era,also sustained damage.
•

Images Before the Bombing

The bombing of the Katib
Waliyah Mosque
The Katib Waliyah Mosque,built during Sultan Al-Nasir
Muhammad bin Qalawun(709-741 AH), is an example of Islamic-Christiancoexistence, with its minaret adjacent to the Orthodox Christian Church. The
mosque is in the Zaytoun
neighborhood of Gaza City.
•

Images Before the Bombing

Bombing of the Historic
Al-Zawiya Market
An ancient historical market in Gaza, decades old,
is now reduced to rubble.
The bombing resulted inits destruction. The market
represented a historicalextension of the “Al-Qaysariyya” market, whichdates back many decades.
•

Images Before and After theBombing

The bombing of the Grand
Omari Mosque
Israeli occupation aircraft
targeted the historic Grand
Omari Mosque in the heartof Gaza City’s Old Town. The
mosque’s minaret, datingback 1400 years, was destroyed. It is the oldest andlargest mosque in the Gaza
Strip, covering an area ofapproximately 4100 square
meters, with a building areaof 1800 square meters.

•

Images After the Bombing

Bombing of the “Al-Suqqa” Houseand “Tirzi” House
Israeli occupation aircraft
bombed and destroyed thehistoric “Al-Suqqa” House in
the Shuja’iya neighborhood ineastern Gaza City. The house
represented the ancient features of Gaza and was renovated in 2014 to become acultural center. It is one of theoldest houses, dating back400 years, with an area of 700
square meters. The occupation forces also targeted
and damaged the historic
Tirzi family building locatedin the Rimal neighborhoodin the city.

•

Al-Suqqa” House

Bombing of Qal’at Burquq(Burquq Castle)
One of the Mamluk sultans
established it more than 600
years ago to protect tradersand secure the road. Inscribed on the castle’s gateis the date of its origin, whichdates back to 1387 CE.
•

Images Before the Bombing

Bombing of Tell Rafah
Archaeological Site
Also known as Tell Zara’b, it
is located on a high hill overlooking the Mediterranean
Sea southwest of the Gaza
Strip. It is considered one of
the most important archaeological sites dating backto the Greek period before
Christ.
•Images Before the Bombing

Bombing of Historic Gaza
Municipality Building

Israeli aircraft bombed themunicipality building, causing significant destruction
and fires inside. This also
included the central archivebuilding, leading to the execution of thousands of historical documents dating backover 100 years.
•

Images Before and After theBombingDestruction of Anthedon
Old Gaza Port and the Listed
World Heritage and Islamic
Heritage Site•

Images After the Bombing

Destruction of the“Unknown Soldier” Monument
The monument symbolizes
the struggle of the Palestinian people. It was built
in 1956 during the Egyptian administration of the
Gaza Strip and represents
the joint struggle of the two
peoples. It was previously
destroyed by Israeli forcesin 1967 but was later rebuilt
by the Palestinian Authority
in 2000.
•

Images Before and After theBombing

Targeting of
Scientific
Institutions
As part of the systematic war on Palestinian culture andcultural institutions, Israeli forces targeted Palestinian
universities, especially Al-Azhar University, which is thethird oldest university in the world, founded in 1920. Its
library and the libraries of the Islamic University and AlQuds Open University in Gaza City were also damaged.

Targeting of“Eye of Truth”
Media
The Israeli occupation targeted journalists and media professionals to prevent them from reporting thetruth. Journalists were not allowed to move even duringceasefire periods. As of the date of this report, morethan 73 journalists and two missing, who were working with local, Arab, and international institutions, havebeen killed. They recorded their last moments and theterrifying experiences they lived through under thebombing. They conveyed the truth and fulfilled theirjournalistic and humanitarian duties even in the mostchallenging and harsh moments, leaving the world with
its role in receiving these powerful humanitarian messages directly from under the bombardment. Israeli
forces also arrested more than 29 journalists.
Additionally, the bombing destroyed several media institutions, such as the Mashareq Gaza Media Foundation,
the Al-Jazeera Channel headquarters, and the Al-Jazeera
Tower, which houses the Associated Press office.