Israel Doesn't Just Destroy Lives

It destroys history too. During their vicious rampage in Beit Hanoun, the Israeli Occupying Forces managed to bring to the ground an 800 year old mosque.

The An-Nasr mosque in Beit Hanoun, which was completely destroyed by the Israeli shelling during the invasion of Beit Hanoun, is a historic mosque that was built 800 years ago.

The imam of the mosque, Sheikh Shihda Abu Zreiq, told Ma'an on Friday that the occupation has ruined "the house of God", which was built in the year 637 according to the Islamic calendar, following the 'Um An-Nasr' battle between the armies of Sultan Mahmoud Qutob and the Crusaders' armies in the area between Gaza City and Asqalan (today's Ashkelon). The Muslim armies triumphed in the battle.

If a Palestinian rocket destroyed a small insignificant synagogue, what would the world's reaction be? Not to mention an 800 year old synagogue...

"This mosque is more than 800 years old. It is part of our heritage and thousands of people visited it every year," laments Akram Abdel Jawd Qassam, whose family have been caretakers of the holy site for half a century.

"The Jews want to destroy everything. Even our heritage and our history. It’s a tragedy," adds the old man.

"They said there were fighters in the mosque but they are liars. I have the keys and it was closed. They occupied my house for two days and never asked me to open the doors to show them that it was empty," he said.

Just another day in the Occupied Territories...

[photo: Ma'an News]