The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius – believed to be the third oldest church in the world – is one of 200 archaeological sites destroyed or damaged by Israeli air strikes, according to Hamas.
The Palestinian authority claims the Israeli army has levelled more than 200 archaeological and ancient sites out of 325 that were registered across Gaza over the course of its onslaught on the enclave since October 7.
The Gaza media office said yesterday (Friday, December 29) that the sites include ancient churches, schools, mosques, museums and other historical and archaeological sites and monuments.
“The ancient and archaeological sites destroyed in Gaza by the army date back to the Phoenician and Roman ages; others date back between 800 BC and 1,400, while others were built 400 years ago,” the media office said in a statement.
It is claimed that among the sites destroyed were the Great Omari Mosque, the Byzantine church in Jabalia, the Shrine of Al-Khadir in Deir al Balah city in central Gaza, and the Blakhiya Byzantine cemetery.
Damage to the Greek Orthodox St. Porphyrius Church
The Gaza media office stated other sites were seriously damaged, including the Greek Orthodox St. Porphyrius Church.
The Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican churches issued a joint appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after Israel allegedly damaged the church. It is claimed that an Israeli air strike damaged the holy building in October, killing more than a dozen people.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the primate of the Church of England, met with other Christian leaders at St. George’s College, an education center of the Anglican Communion in Jerusalem, to express solidarity with the Palestinian Christians. This according to a news release published by the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem.
The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem is an ecumenical council of leaders in the Christian faith that includes the heads of the Greek Orthodox Church, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, among others.
Archaeological Sites Destroyed in Gaza may be Deliberate
Geneva-based rights group, Euro-Med Monitor, said on November 20 that Israel deliberately destroyed archaeological and historical monuments in the Gaza Strip, and accused it of “explicitly targeting Palestinian cultural heritage.”
Gaza is an ancient and historic city that came under the rule of several empires and civilizations, including the Pharaohs, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines then the Islamic age, among others.
Since Hamas’ cross-border surprise blitz on October 7, Israel has continued relentless attacks on the blockaded enclave, killing at least 21,507 Palestinians — about 1% of Gaza’s population — and wounding 55,915, according to local health authorities.
Israel is yet to release a statement addressing the allegations of deliberate cultural destruction.