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Turkey rebuilds 9 mosques destroyed by Israel in Gaza

December 3, 2015 at 11:48 am

The Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (DIB) announced yesterday that it had started rebuilding nine mosques in the Gaza Strip after they were destroyed during Israel’s war on Gaza in 2014, the Anadolu Agency reported.

While placing the corner stone of Al-Safa Mosque, DIB Vice-President Professor Hassan Kamil Yilmaz said: “We will rebuild nine mosques destroyed by last year’s Israeli war on Gaza.”

The cost of rebuilding the mosque is $4.5 million, noting that $1.2 million has already been transferred to the authorities in Gaza to start setting up the foundations of the mosques, he explained.

“Building mosques for our oppressed brothers in Gaza strengthens the relationship between us,” Yilmaz said, adding: “Gaza has a special place in our hearts.”

After the announcement of the rebuilding project, Yilmaz visited the Turkish Friendship Hospital in the south of Gaza City, which is run by the Islamic University of Gaza. This hospital is the biggest project funded by Turkey in the Palestinian territories and cost $34 million.

Yilmaz and a number of Turkish officials entered the Gaza Strip through Erez yesterday morning to start a two-day visit to the Strip.

The Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs said 64 mosques were completely destroyed during Israel’s 51-day war in July 2014, a further 150 were damaged.