Palestinians in Gaza gather for second Friday prayers of Ramadan at hollowed out mosque

Описание: (27 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip - 27 February 2026
1. Various of destroyed mosque
2. Various of worshippers gathering outside destroyed mosque for Friday prayers during Ramadan, UPSOUND of sermon given out before the weekly Friday prayers
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Naem Safi, from Khan Younis:
"Today we are at the mosque, here. Despite the fact that it is destroyed and leaning, we pray at this mosque. We repaired as much as we could, together with the people at the mosque and the people in the neighborhood. Donors joined us in the effort to repair this mosque. But this year is better than other years. Every year, we would pray in this mosque while missiles were struck at us, and there were (war) planes, drones operating above us, the shootings and fear, comfort. But today, Allah Almighty has granted us the opportunity to pray during the month of Ramadan in this mosque with (a sense of) comfort and reassurance."
4. Various of worshippers sitting on the ground outside destroyed mosque, listening to Friday sermon
5. Various of children sitting on rubble, mosque structure behind them
6. Various of worshippers gathering for sermon
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Zeiad Abu Ermana, displaced from Rafah:
"We pray in the streets. These are the mosques. As you can see, they are broken, they destroyed them. God is sufficient for me, and he is the best disposer of affairs (meaning he is leaving the matter in the hands of God)."
8. Various of worshippers sitting outside destroyed mosque listening to Friday sermon
9. Various of destroyed mosque
10. Worshippers standing up to begin the prayers
11. Various of worshippers praying together
12. Various of worshippers leaving
STORYLINE:
Tens of Palestinians, including children, gathered for Friday prayers at the shell of a mosque in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis during the second week of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Naem Safi from Khan Younis said the community and donors came together to try and repair the mosque, but the building is still leaning.

"Despite the fact that it is destroyed and leaning, we pray at this mosque," he added.

Palestinians lined up in serenity and devotion during the prayers as rubble and wreckage stretched as far as the eye could see.

A few tents were pitched near the prayer mats that were laid out on the ground, where worshippers gathered to pray.

"We pray in the streets. These are the mosques. As you can see, they are broken, they destroyed them," said Zeiad Abu Emrana, who was displaced from Rafah.

Abu Emrana added that he and his family including the children have to sleep in the street.

The prayers marked the second Friday congregation since the start of Ramadan, a month traditionally defined by communal worship and reflection, now observed in Gaza amid widespread displacement and destruction.

Hundreds of thousands are living in tents, and reconstruction has yet to begin following a shaky ceasefire agreement reached in October, following Israel’s two-year offensive destroyed much of the territory.

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