Despite Israel’s Airstrikes Destroying A Mosque In Gaza, Palestinians Gathered To Pray In Its Ruins for Ramadan
Al-Farouk Mosque in Rafah was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 22 but that didn’t stop Palestinians from holding their prayers there.
Palestinians held the first Taraweeh prayer among the ruins of a mosque in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, as the month of Ramadan began.
Al-Farouk Mosque was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 22 but that didn’t stop Palestinians from holding their prayers there.
Videos widely shared on social media showed Palestinians, with portable lights and speakers, performing Taraweeh prayer on the evening of Sunday, March 10, in the rubble of Al-Farouk mosque.
On Friday, March 1, the imam Omar Abu Mostafa insisted on reciting the adhan, the call to prayer, for Friday prayer and performing congregational prayers in the rubble of the mosque.
Hundreds of Gazans attended the Friday prayers as a demonstration of persistence and rejection of the destruction of mosques in Gaza by the Israeli forces.
“These mosques refuse to be silenced, and the call to prayer will continue to resound, growing louder. Despite this occupier and their arrogance, we must uphold God’s rituals and continue to hold Friday prayers in this place.”
Ahmed Abdulaziz, a worshipper who attended the Friday prayer told Reuters.
This is not the first time Al-Farouk mosque has been bombed by Israel; it was bombed before in July 2014.
Palestinian worshipper Aizzat Abu Zayed said mosques are a sign of home to Palestinians. “We pray in this place because I opened my eyes to this mosque since I was young.
At the age of 6, I used to pray in this mosque,” he said, adding that he has prayed there his whole life, even when it was bombed previously by Israel.
Palestinian authorities said the Israeli army has destroyed 1,000 of 1,200 mosques in Gaza, including historic ones, since Oct. 7.
More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and ground offensive since the war began on Oct. 7.
