Israeli forces have reportedly destroyed a staggering 966 mosques in Gaza, either completely or partially, as part of their ongoing genocidal aggression, according to a statement from the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The ministry revealed that 2024 has been particularly devastating, with 815 mosques entirely demolished and 151 others sustaining significant damage. These attacks have also targeted other religious and cultural sites, with 19 cemeteries and 3 churches in Gaza reportedly destroyed.

In Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque faced a series of escalated assaults, with Israeli forces launching 256 attacks on the holy site throughout 2024, the ministry reported. Al-Aqsa, a site of profound religious significance, remains a focal point of tension and violence.

The Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron has also come under repeated restrictions. Israeli forces obstructed the Muslim call to prayer at the mosque 674 times in 2024 and closed it entirely on 10 separate occasions.

The West Bank has not been spared either, with reports of Israeli forces targeting 20 mosques in different areas of the territory during the year.

These actions, which have drawn widespread condemnation, are seen as part of a broader campaign affecting places of worship and cultural heritage sites across the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinian officials and international observers have called for urgent measures to protect religious sites and hold Israeli forces accountable for what they describe as violations of international law. (ILKHA)