GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Muneer Elbaz remembers the joy of visiting the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza with his family, praying at a site where people have worshipped over centuries as empires came and went.
Palestinian men rest or pray in the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan before it was damaged by an Israeli strike during the war with Hamas, Aug. 17, 2010.
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A view of the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City after it was damaged by an Israeli strike during the war with Hamas, Feb. 12.
A Palestinian woman walks past the historic Pasha Palace in Gaza City after an Israeli airstrike badly damaged the building during the war in the Gaza Strip, Nov. 13.
Palestinians rest at the reception of Hamam al-Sumara, a historic bathhouse in Gaza City, May 2, 2015. Hamam al-Sumara means "Samaritans' Bath" in Arabic.
Workers inspect Hamam al-Sumara, a historic bathhouse in Gaza City, after it was heavily damaged during the Israel-Hamas war, Jan. 27.
Photos: Palestinians look to salvage Gaza's history from ruins
A view of the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City after it was damaged by an Israeli strike during the war with Hamas, Feb. 12.
Workers inspect Hamam al-Sumara, a historic bathhouse in Gaza City, after it was heavily damaged during the Israel-Hamas war, Jan. 27.
Palestinian children walk through rubble at the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City after it was damaged by an Israeli strike during the war with Hamas, Wednesday. Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
FILE - Palestinians attend Friday prayers at the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City after it was damaged by an Israeli strike during the war with Hamas, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File)
Palestinians rest at the reception of Hamam al-Sumara, a historic bathhouse in Gaza City, May 2, 2015. Hamam al-Sumara means "Samaritans' Bath" in Arabic.
A view of the historic Pasha Palace in Gaza City after an Israeli airstrike badly damaged the building during the war in the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Palestinians walk in front of the Barqouq Castle in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip after it was damaged during the Israel-Hamas war Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem)
A Palestinian woman walks past the historic Pasha Palace in Gaza City after an Israeli airstrike badly damaged the building during the war in the Gaza Strip, Nov. 13.
FILE - Workers carry out recovery projects and search for missing artifacts at the Pasha Palace in Gaza City after an Israeli strike damaged it during the war with Hamas, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File)
Palestinian men rest or pray in the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan before it was damaged by an Israeli strike during the war with Hamas, Aug. 17, 2010.
FILE - Palestinians gather to attend Friday prayers at the Great Omari Mosque, which was damaged during the Israeli military's air and ground operation in Gaza City, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File)
A visitor looks at antiquities displayed at the Pasha Palace, a museum in Gaza City that was later damaged in the Israel-Hamas war, in Gaza City, July 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
FILE – Archaeological columns are displayed outside the Pasha Palace, a museum housing artifacts that was later damaged in the Israel-Hamas war, in Gaza City, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
FILE - Palestinians rest outside the steam room at Hamam al-Sumara, a historic bathhouse in Gaza City, Saturday, May 2, 2015. Hamam al-Sumara means "Samaritans' Bath" in Arabic. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
FILE - Palestinian vendors set up outside the Barqouq Castle, which was later damaged during the Israel-Hamas war, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
FILE - Palestinians gather outside the Great Omari Mosque after the afternoon prayer in Gaza City. Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)
