Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – There are nearly 200 historical sites that have been destroyed or damaged as a result of Israeli air attacks in the Gaza region, Palestine since October 7 2023.

Launching from Al Jazeerathe facts about this were revealed after South Africa stated that Israel had committed many war crimes, including the destruction of a nation's cultural heritage in a lawsuit hearing at the International Court of Justice.

“Israel has damaged and destroyed many Palestinian centers of learning and culture, including libraries, religious sites and other historical places,” said South Africa, quoted Tuesday (30/1/2024).

Meanwhile, the Gaza Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities also urged the world and organizations working in the fields of education, science and culture, UNESCO, to act on the “cultural genocide” carried out by Israel.

“The world and UNESCO must take action against crimes targeting archaeological sites to preserve this great civilizational and cultural heritage,” said Gaza's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Responding to this, UNESCO said that apart from humanity, protection of cultural heritage in all forms must be carried out. Therefore, he called on Israel to respect international law.

“In accordance with its mandate, UNESCO calls on all actors involved to strictly respect international law. Cultural property must not be targeted or used for military purposes because it is considered civilian infrastructure,” explained UNESCO in a statement.

The president of Heritage for Peace, Isber Sabrine, said that crimes affecting cultural heritage were part of the “collateral damage of genocide”.

“Libraries function as cultural repositories. Attacking libraries is an attack on cultural heritage. What is happening now is a war crime,” said Sabrine.

“Israel is trying to erase people's connection with their land. This is very clear and deliberate. Gaza's heritage is part of their people, history and relationship,” he added.

Not only cultural sites in the form of archeology and other historical remains, Israel is also said to have destroyed hundreds of museums, libraries, mosques and churches in Gaza. Here is the list:

Museum

According to the International-Arab Council of Museums (ICOM-Arab), two of the four museums in Gaza have been destroyed and leveled by Israel through military aggression.

1. Rafah Museum (Destroyed in an air strike 11 October 2023)

2. Al Qarara Museum (Destroyed during an airstrike in October)

3. Mathaf al-Funduq Museum (Damaged by shooting on November 3, 2023)

4. Qasr Al-Basha Museum (Walls, courtyards and gardens were damaged by Israeli air strikes on December 11, 2023)

Library

Based on the results of Palestinian searches during the one-week pause in Israeli bombing which began on November 24 2023, many public service buildings were destroyed due to Israeli actions, including the Rashad El Shawa Cultural Center, Gaza.

Apart from that, the Omari Grand Mosque, which housed various rare manuscripts, including the ancient Koran, a biography of the Prophet Muhammad, and various ancient books on philosophy, medicine and Sufi mysticism, was also destroyed.

In fact, the library, which was founded by Sultan Zahir Baybars and opened in 1277, collected 20 thousand books and manuscripts. However, many collections were lost or destroyed as a result of the Crusades, World War I and strikes.

The following is a library that was destroyed by the Israeli attack.

1. Samir Mansour Community Bookstore

2. Omari Grand Mosque Library

Mosque

Photo: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA Palestinians remove debris at a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Gaza's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities estimates that as many as 104 mosques have been damaged or destroyed since the Israeli offensive began.

One of the destroyed mosques was the Otsman bin Qashqar Mosque, which was built in 1220 at the location believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad's great-grandfather was buried.

Apart from that, the Sayed al-Hashim Mosque, which was built around the 12th century and rebuilt in 1850, was also damaged. In fact, this mosque is very historic because it is said to be the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad's great-grandfather.

The following are a number of mosques that were destroyed as a result of Israeli attacks.

1. Othman bin Qashqar Mosque (Severely damaged in an airstrike 7 December 2023)

2. Sayed al-Hashim Mosque (Severely damaged by airstrikes in October 2023).

3. Omari Grand Mosque (Destroyed on December 8, 2023 due to an air strike)

Church

Photo: View of the inside of a church where hundreds of Palestinians were killed in an explosion amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, in Gaza City, October 18, 2023. (REUTERS/AHMED ZAKOT)

Not only mosques, churches which are places of worship for Christians and Catholics in Gaza were also victims of destruction due to Israeli attacks.

According to Al Jazeera records, there are various churches that were destroyed and damaged, including the Byzantine Jabalia Church whose walls are decorated with 16 religious texts written in Ancient Greek and dating from the era of Emperor Theodosius II.

The following are a number of churches that were destroyed as a result of Israeli attacks.

1. Jabalia Byzantine Church (Destroyed in October 2023 due to an Israeli air strike)

2. Saint Hilarion Monastery (Damaged by Israeli bombing)

3. Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church (Attacked and damaged on October 19, 2023)

4. Holy Family Church (Partially destroyed by airstrike November 4, 2023)

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(hsy/hsy)