Israel’s war on Gaza has destroyed homes and hospitals and also targeted the territory’s religious institutions, with officials accusing it of deliberately striking clerics and churches to erode the enclave’s social fabric.
The Gaza Government Media Office said at least 233 Muslim imams, preachers and scholars, along with 20 Palestinian Christians, have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023.
Ismail al-Thawabteh, who heads the media office, told Anadolu that the killings form part of a "systematic campaign to silence religious voices and dismantle pillars of resilience."
"Clerics are vital in reinforcing national identity, nurturing faith, and preserving social cohesion. Their elimination aims to sap morale and extinguish the discourse that exposes Israel’s crimes," he said.
Prominent clerics killed
