Volunteers salvage historic Gaza mosque stones from rubble

Conservation efforts

Volunteers from the Guardians of Heritage team are retrieving stones and marble columns from the rubble of Deir al-Balah's Abu Salim Mosque, hoping to preserve the 1951 landmark for future restoration after the structure was struck on Aug. 24. Mayor Khalil Abu Samra told Anadolu the mosque — built in an Ottoman architectural style at the expense of Hajj Mohammed Abu Salim — has stood for decades as a prominent city landmark. "We preserved this mosque for many years," he said, voicing hope that volunteers would rebuild it "by the hands of the Guardians of Heritage and the Guardians of the Homeland" to its former appearance.

Architectural heritage

Shaimaa al-Natour, coordinator of the Guardians of Heritage campaign, said the team moved to the site shortly after the strike to begin "preventive conservation measures." The first phase focuses on recovering scattered materials and storing them safely, she added, with later stages expected to address structural restoration. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to protect Gaza's archaeological heritage despite extensive damage to historic sites during the Israeli war, according to the Mayasir Association for Culture and Arts, which organized the campaign.

Broader toll

Israeli shelling previously struck the upper section of the minaret in 2014 and damaged the facade, which was later restored in cooperation with heritage centers. The Aug. 24 strike caused far more extensive damage, occurring amid a broader toll that has seen 1,050 mosques destroyed and 191 partially damaged out of 1,275 total in the enclave since the war began, according to Gaza's Ministry of Endowments. At least 73,449 people have been killed and 174,472 injured in Israel's war on Gaza since October 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.