Israel carries out mass killings of hundreds of imams, conveying messages of hope and perseverance in Gaza conflict
The relentless attacks on Gaza by Israel have left a trail of destruction in the community's religious heart, with many faith leaders – particularly from the Muslim population – perishing in the crossfire. As per reports from the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs, close to 300 Islamic scholars and clerics, including Quran teachers, preachers, and imams, have been killed so far. This grim statistic does not account for the more than 500 mosques that have been decimated, with dozens more partially destroyed, including the historic Al-Omari Mosque.
Sadly, three churches have also been reduced to ruins, such as the famed Church of Saint Porphyrius. Besides the houses of worship, the ministry's main building and the Quran Podcast Institute have suffered damage due to Israeli raids.
In the face of such devastation, the ministry continues its quest to provide solace and hope to the displaced community. They hold sermons, conduct prayers in damaged mosques, and offer Quran teaching and memorization sessions. A spokesperson for the ministry declared that Israel's targeting of mosques and Islamic scholars is an intentional act meant to break the faith of Palestinians and implored the global Muslim community to stand up against this ongoing brutality.
The spokesperson emphasized that religious scholars and facilities are protected by international laws, making such targeting a clear war crime. They urged the world to take action, protect innocent civilians, and halt the violence in Gaza. The ministry also appealed particularly to the Arab world's Islamic scholars and ministries to confront the escalating atrocities and advocated for accountability for their inaction in the afterlife.
Prominent scholars and clerics, such as Taiseer Ibrahim, Najeeba Al-Da'alees, Awni Own, Wael Al-Zird, Basem Al-Safadi, and many others, have fallen victim to these brutal military campaigns. Individuals like Taiseer Ibrahim, who had dedicated his life to studying Islam, were among the casualties, leaving gaps that are difficult to fill.
Ibrahim's son, Mohammed, shared his heartache with the public, remembering his father not only as a father but as a brother, friend, and companion. He described his late father as a symbol of love, forgiveness, and generosity. Mohammed urged the world to intervene in this crisis and bring an end to the horrific violence.
An assault also claimed the life of a woman imam, Najeeba al-Da'alees, in the early days of the brutal conflict in Gaza. She had spent over two decades teaching Quran to girls and women and was revered as a leader in the community. Her students and colleagues mourned her loss deeply and remembered her as a maternal figure, a leader, and an inspiration.
A famed Quran teacher, public orator, and imam named Owni Own met a devastating end alongside members of his family in an Israeli air strike on his home in Al-Maghazi Refugee Camp during Ramadan. Own was also an English teacher at the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency for the Palestinians (Unrwa) and served as a Quran teacher at Al-Zaytoona College in Gaza. His enthusiasm for teaching Quran was unparalleled, and his kind and fun-loving nature endeared him to many.
Abu-Abid al-Bayoomi, a former colleague of Own's, cried out, "Until when will the world stay silent? Where is the Arab and so-called Muslim world?" The ongoing silence and inaction of the international community in the face of these atrocities exacerbate the sense of despair and hopelessness in Gaza.
- The ongoing violence in Gaza has been the subject of numerous war-and-conflicts analysis pieces in the media.
- The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs has called for intervention in the General News, stating that Israel's targeting of middle east religious figures and facilities is a violation of international politics and laws.
- Crime-and-justice investigations are needed to determine the intent of Israel's attacks on faith leaders, mosques, and churches in Palestine.
- As the war-and-conflicts in Gaza continue, there have been numerous calls from Islamic scholars and political leaders for accountability and action from the global community.
- The shocking loss of prominent Palestinian Quran teachers, preachers, and imams, such as Taiseer Ibrahim and Owni Own, has been a significant factor in the escalating crime-and-justice issues in the region.
