Israel destroyed more than 200 of 325 archaeological sites in Gaza

[Judi Lynn]

Fatemeh Salari
December 31, 2023https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings
2 minute read



More than 200 archaeological and ancient sites in the besieged Gaza Strip have been obliterated out of a total of 325 registered as a result of the ongoing Israeli genocide in the enclave, as confirmed by its authorities on Friday. The destruction stretched into historical landmarks, from ancient churches and mosques to schools and museums dating back to the Phoenician and Roman ages, Gaza Media Office revealed.

“The ancient and archaeological sites destroyed by the army date back to the Phoenician and Roman ages, others date back between 800 BC and 1,400, while others were built 400 years ago,” the Gaza Media Office said in a statement.

Among the losses are the Great Omari Mosque, the Byzantine church in Jabalia, the Shrine of Al-Khadir in Deir al-Balah city, and the Blakhiya Byzantine cemetery (The Anthedon of Palestine) in northwestern Gaza City.

The Geneva-based human rights group Euro-Med Monitor said Israel targeted Palestinian cultural heritage intentionally, emphasising that the destruction of archaeological and historical monuments was a deliberate act.

More:
https://dohanews.co/israel-destroyed-more-than-200-of-325-archaeological-sites-in-gaza/

[NoRethugFriends]

1. Nice unbiased source

[al bupp]

3. Which doesn't mean that the headline is wrong

Here's perhaps a less biased source:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-12-26/ty-article-magazine/.premium/bombing-historical-sites-in-gaza-israel-is-destroying-everything-beautiful/0000018c-a565-df1f-a7bf-b7e53e8e0000

On edit, here's a similar report that doesn't have a paywall:

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/03/1216200754/gaza-heritage-sites-destroyed-israel

[Goddessartist]

2. It's just horrible.

Erasing history.

And for those that question the source posted, the information is true, and easy to find. The WSJ wrote an article on the destruction of landmarks and historical sites, and many others have reported as well, though not many msm outlets like to show the destruction Israel is wreaking.

[nocoincidences]

4. The issue is not whether it happened,

but if Israel deliberately targeted those structures.

I don't buy that for a second.

[jimfields33]

5. I don't either.

Israel has been more then careful with every move they make.

[moniss]

6. The record of conduct

for the last century or so between the sides indicates that this is a tactic used consistently along with confiscation and/or destruction of documents, films, libraries, government records etc. So I do not give the benefit of the doubt here.

[nocoincidences]

7. Really?

Citations on that?

[moniss]

8. Go back to the last 100 years

and if you want something about documents and records then you can go to the confiscation that took place in Lebanon in the early '80's. If you wish an author who writes about some aspects of this "intentional disappearing" of documents etc. then here you go and you can spend the hours going through the multiple other authors and researchers she cites and that follow from there. That is just from a document perspective. There are others about attacks on mosques, temples, holy sites, historical sites by sides not just in Gaza but throughout the Middle East. These tactics are not unique to the Middle East and have been used around the world since ancient times by parties in conflict with each other. Plundering and ruin are a common matter. You are also welcome to explore another link about documents, etc. regarding the matter in Lebanon I referenced earlier.

Another example of these kinds of appropriations and/or destruction of cultural things is the confiscation of records, documents, assets etc. of Jews and others by the Nazis. As I've stated elsewhere ( I'll give you the post) this was often done to erase or make more difficult any claims to property etc. and for other purposes as I stated in the linked post. It is not an exhaustive recitation of every nuance or aspect because I'm not trying to write a book about it. The behavior described goes on, has gone on and will go on as long as sides have armed conflicts with each other or the means to suppress the other in some ways.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10350330.2017.1291140

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Research_Center

https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=18563383