Editor's Pick

PALESTINIANS ATTEND FRIDAY NOON PRAYERS on 8 August 2014 in Gaza city, beneath the fallen minaret of the al-Soussi mosque, which was hit by Israeli air strikes.

In its recent operations in Gaza, Israel has destroyed at least 60 mosques, according to the Palestinian ministry of religious affairs, including the seventh-century al-Omari mosque in the Jabalia refugee camp in the territory’s north. During Operation Cast Lead, a three-week assault on Gaza over December 2008 and January 2009, Israel shelled 17 mosques, which it claimed served as weapons depots for the militant group Hamas, and toppled 20 minarets, which it said were used as lookout posts and communications relay stations. In the latest assault, Israel asserts, Hamas has used mosques and minarets for similar purposes, and also to hold strategy meetings and hide access shafts to underground tunnels. Gazans deny that any mosques are being used by Hamas, and say these attacks on their places of worship, which also serve as educational, health and community centres, are part of an Israeli campaign to undermine their faith and society.