Perhaps no structure so exemplified the rich, interwoven history of the Gaza Strip as the Great Omari Mosque, believed by many to be the oldest in the territory. As empires waned, religious buildings on the site – first pagan, then Christian and Muslim – were destroyed or repurposed. The mosque was rebuilt many times, surviving not only as a beloved centre for Islamic faith and learning, but also as a symbol of resilience. In December the mosque was all but destroyed in an air strike by the Israeli military, which claimed the site had become a command centre for Hamas....