Despite Israel's genocidal military campaign, widespread destruction and mass displacement across the Gaza Strip, 1,000 Palestinian men, women, boys and girls have been honored for memorizing the entire Holy Quran in a ceremony held in Gaza City.

The central ceremony was organized by Gaza's Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs on Thursday, November 12, with sponsorship from Algeria's Al-Baraka Association, and drew large crowds, including the families of the Quran memorizers.

The event was preceded by a Quranic march through the streets and neighborhoods of Gaza City, with participants from different age groups carrying copies of the Holy Quran and reciting religious chants and hymns.

The ceremony celebrated the achievements of 1,000 male and female memorizers who completed the memorization of the entire Quran, highlighting the continued commitment of Palestinian families and communities to religious education despite the extraordinary hardships facing the besieged territory.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Salem, a representative of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, said the occasion went beyond honoring Quran memorizers, describing it as a celebration of 1,000 stories of patience, dedication and steadfastness.

He also highlighted the continued efforts to teach and preserve the Quran in Gaza despite the destruction caused by the Israeli war and the difficult circumstances confronting educational and religious institutions.

The organizers said Quranic education centers and memorization circles had continued their activities through community efforts and the dedication of teachers and supervisors, despite severe challenges.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and commemorative awards to the graduates, drawing emotional celebrations from their families and members of the public.

Images and videos of the Quranic procession and graduation ceremony circulated widely on social media, attracting widespread attention and praise for the determination of Palestinians to preserve their religious and educational traditions despite the devastation surrounding them.

The event offered a glimpse of the continued importance of Quranic education in Palestinian society, particularly as Gaza struggles to recover from the destruction of schools, mosques and other essential civilian infrastructure. (ILKHA)