Gaza’s Ramadan is missing the voices of 312 preachers and imams who were silenced by the Israeli genocide

This year, Ramadan arrives in the Gaza Strip amidst the absence of dozens of imams, preachers, and religious scholars who were killed during the Israeli war of annihilation, and amidst the massive destruction of hundreds of mosques. This has drastically altered the character of this month, which Palestinians traditionally welcome with special religious and social rituals.

According to the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs in the Strip, Israel killed 312 preachers, imams, and Quran teachers during the months of the war, while completely destroying 1,050 mosques and partially damaging 191, out of a total of 1,275 mosques that existed before the war.

Ismail al-Thawabta, Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, stated that Israel targeted “religious and social figures who played a pivotal role in preaching, guidance, promoting social peace, and instilling spiritual values” during its war on Gaza.

He explained that the Christian community also lost 20 of its members during the war, as they were killed when Christian places of worship in the Strip were targeted. He pointed out that the Israeli targeting caused direct initial losses to the religious sector “estimated at about oطne billion dollars”, noting that cemeteries were subjected to “bulldozing and targeting”.