Israel threatens Gaza’s Old City, home to displaced families and heritage sites
میدل-ایست-آی - 1404-07-09 18:54:41
Israel threatens Gaza’s Old City, home to displaced families and heritage sites
The Israeli army has ordered residents of the Old City of Gaza to immediately flee towards the southern part of the blockaded strip, declaring the area a hostile and high-risk combat zone.
The military threatened it would strike the area with "overwhelming force".
Every metre of the historic district bears the marks of blood and gunpowder - and now Israel appears intent on razing it, wiping out centuries of Palestinian heritage and concealing evidence of its inhabitants' deep-rooted presence.
Many see this as a deliberate attempt to erase the Palestinian cause in all its dimensions.
Ahmed Adnan al-Heisi, a resident of the historic quarters, spoke to Middle East Eye as he gathered his belongings after the Israeli military announced expulsion orders in the Old City.
He said Palestinians - particularly those from the north of the besieged enclave - had considered the area safe, and many sought refuge there.
Despite army expulsion orders and threats of violence, Heisi noted that residents of the historic centre remain defiant, refusing to leave.
Some, he added, have resigned themselves to their fate, while others stay on with the attitude of “whatever happens, happens,” even in the face of death.
Meanwhile, civilian movement on the streets has slowed, with reduced activity in public spaces such as markets.
Heisi said that although residents fear what might happen if the army launches concentrated attacks, many prefer to stay in their homes rather than endure the hardship of fleeing from one place to another.
“Of course there are worries,” he said. “People know that if attacks begin, they may head to nearby areas. But abandoning their homes - that’s a no.”
“They only flee if there is direct shelling or if the army advances, and then they return once it stops.”
Home to Gaza's heritage
Located in the heart of Gaza City, the Old City is bordered by the Shujaiyya neighbourhood to the east, al-Zaytoun to the south, al-Rimal to the west, and al-Daraj to the north.
Despite constant aerial and artillery bombardments, it remains one of the most densely populated areas in Gaza today.
The Old City is considered Gaza’s most historically significant neighbourhood, home to around 85 percent of the strip's archaeological and cultural heritage. Chief among these is the Great Omari Mosque, over 4,000 years old, which has endured repeated destruction and restoration over the centuries.
Since the start of the war, Israeli strikes have destroyed around 90 percent of the mosque, including its historic library housing hundreds of original manuscripts. During the Israeli ground invasion of Shujaiyya in April 2024, the mosque was shelled multiple times.
Also located in the Old City are Gaza’s most prominent historic churches.
The Holy Family Church, dating back to the early 19th century, has been struck multiple times by drone and artillery fire, causing casualties among the local Christian community. It now serves as a major shelter for hundreds of displaced families.
Saint Porphyrius Church, the oldest church in Gaza, was heavily damaged by Israeli shelling in December 2023, also resulting in casualties.
The Baptist Church, situated within the Arab Ahli Hospital compound, also sustained repeated damage from Israeli strikes.
Another major loss is the destruction of Hammam al-Samara, an Ottoman-era bathhouse built in the late 18th century, which was completely demolished during the bombing campaign of December 2023.
One of the most devastating attacks on cultural sites occurred at Sayyed Hashim Mosque, a vast historical complex dating back 2,500 years and home to thousands of rare antiquities.
The site was bombed in late December 2023, with 90 percent of it destroyed.
During the April 2024 ground assault on Shujaiyya, Israeli forces reportedly seized the mosque, looted its antiquities, and demolished what remained.
Attacks on public spaces, hospitals
The Old City is home to historic marketplaces and landmarks long frequented by residents and visitors, including al-Zawiya Market, the Gold Market, Fahmi Bek Market, Souq al-Shama, the al-Saqqa House, as well as traditional homes and streets that make up the cultural fabric of Gaza.
During Israel’s military operation in early March 2025, dozens of homes, buildings, and properties in the Old City were struck.
As northern Gaza came under siege, many displaced residents fled to the Old City seeking shelter. But the attacks intensified, with entire homes bombed while families were still inside - an apparent strategy to forcibly evacuate the area.
The Old City’s only hospital, al-Ahli Arab Hospital, also known as the Baptist hospital, has also been repeatedly targeted.
The most recent Israeli strike in May destroyed its medical laboratories and emergency department.
Earlier bombardments in Israel's genocide hit the hospital courtyard with several missiles, killing hundreds of people.
Heisi told MEE the hospital continues to operate, repeatedly refusing to comply with expulsion orders.
