Palestinians Observe First Tarawih Prayers Amid Gaza’s War-Torn Mosques

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, Palestinians in Gaza gathered for the first Tarawih prayers on Friday night, finding spiritual strength amid the devastation of war. With mosques reduced to rubble, worshippers laid out carpets beside the ruins, seeking solace in their faith.

The Great Omari Mosque, Gaza’s largest and oldest place of worship, bore the scars of conflict, its minaret destroyed and parts of its structure severely damaged. “Today, we pray among the ruins, holding onto our faith and hoping for peace,” said Bilal Al-Lahham, an imam in Gaza City.

The war has left an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing nearly 1.5 million residents and destroying over 1,100 mosques, according to the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has temporarily paused hostilities, but the scars of war remain. Meanwhile, Israel faces genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and arrest warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for top Israeli officials on charges of war crimes.

Despite the devastation, Gazans continue to observe their religious traditions, demonstrating resilience and faith in the face of adversity.