Footage documents Israeli soldiers burning copies of Holy Quran in mosque in Gaza: Report
Israeli soldiers burned copies of the Holy Quran in a mosque in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to footage released on Friday.
Al Jazeera, a Qatari news channel, claimed to have obtained the footage from footage captured by Israeli soldiers and drones in Gaza.
The footage showed Israeli soldiers breaking into the Bani Saleh Mosque in the northern Gaza Strip, tearing up and burning copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, inside.
More footage shows the Israeli army destroying the Grand Mosque in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, which is one of Gaza’s oldest mosques, having been built 96 years ago.
The Israeli army has not yet commented on the footage.
Destroying or desecrating a Quran is a serious offense under Islamic law and an insult to the faith of the world’s 1.9 billion Muslims.
Hundreds of mosques have been partially or completely destroyed during Israel’s 10-month offensive on Gaza, including the Great Omari Mosque, which was built on a site in Gaza City over 1,400 years ago.
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, the Israeli army has completely destroyed 609 mosques, partially damaged 211, and destroyed three churches in Gaza since the conflict began on October 7.
Since Israel launched its campaign against Gaza ten months ago, dozens of countries and international humanitarian organizations have condemned the bombing of hospitals, civilian housing, and places of worship, all of which are prohibited from being attacked under wartime regulations.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution urging an immediate cease-fire, Israel has maintained its offensive against Gaza in response to a Hamas attack on October 7.
According to local health authorities, the onslaught has killed over 40,200 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, and injured over 93,000 others.
The ongoing Gaza blockade has caused severe food, water, and medicine shortages, leaving much of the region in ruins.
The International Court of Justice has ordered a halt to military operations in Rafah, the southern city where over one million Palestinians sought refuge before it was invaded on May 6.
