Palestinians mourn history as Israel destroys archaeological sites in Gaza

A Palestinian man inspects the historical site of Barquq Castle destroyed in the Gaza conflict in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on April 23, 2024. [Xinhua]

In a state of astonishment, Samiha al-Aqqad, the 86-year-old mother of eight, gazed in disbelief at the mound-like piles of rubble, barely recognizing the remnants of Barquq Castle, a historical site in Khan Younis, reduced by the Israeli army to a mere heap of debris.

"A few months ago, we had Barquq Castle, which was an essential and ancient landmark of the city of Khan Younis. It indicated the presence of civilization, heritage, and culture in our city throughout history," the elderly Palestinian woman told Xinhua.