Gaza: Israel's war on Gaza has not only destroyed homes and hospitals but also struck at the territory's religious foundations, with officials saying clerics and churches have been deliberately targeted to weaken the enclave's social fabric.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Gaza Government Media Office reported that at least 233 Muslim imams, preachers, and scholars, along with 20 Palestinian Christians, have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023. Ismail al-Thawabteh, head of the media office, stated that the killings are part of a 'systematic campaign to silence religious voices and dismantle pillars of resilience.'

Among the prominent clerics who were killed are Yousef Salama, a former Gaza Ministry of Endowments official; Wael al-Zard, imam of the historic Omari Mosque; Walid Oweida, a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars; and Nael Masran, known for his sermons urging steadfastness. These figures were influential in reinforcing national identity and preserving social cohesion.

The conflict has also severely impacted the Christian community in Gaza. Three major churches-the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius, the Catholic Church of the Holy Family, and the Baptist Evangelical Church-have been bombed, with at least 20 Christians killed in these attacks. Father Gabriel Romanelli was among those injured in an attack on the Holy Family Church.

Israel's military campaign has resulted in nearly 63,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 2023. The ongoing blockade has exacerbated food and medicine shortages, with displaced Christian families facing acute hardships. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes, and Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.