Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday damaged two mosques in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of completely destroyed mosques in the current conflict to 59 and partially destroyed mosques to 136, according to Gaza’s Interior Ministry.
“Israeli occupation aircraft bombed and completely destroyed Khalid bin al-Walid and Al-Ikhlas mosques in Khan Yunis,” said a ministry statement.
Ikrami al-Mudallal, spokesman for the Ministry of Endowments in the Gaza Strip, added that Israel also targeted a third mosque in Gaza, Al-Sahwa Mosque, bringing the total number of completely destroyed mosques to 59.
al-Mudallal said, “The number of mosques completely demolished has risen to 59, in addition to varying degrees of damage to 136 mosques and three churches, since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza on Oct. 7.”
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Targeting civilian facilities such as houses of worship is a violation of the rules of war. Israel has claimed Hamas fighters hide in and around these sites.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.
Over 10,000 Palestinians, including children and women, have been killed since then. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures. (Yeni Safak)
