GAZA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli war jets destroyed on Friday the oldest and largest mosque in the Gaza City, Palestinian security sources said.

"Al-Omari Grand Mosque, the largest and oldest mosque in the Gaza Strip, was extensively destroyed in Israeli attacks," the sources told Xinhua.

The Omari Mosque was founded more than 1,400 years ago with an area of about 4,100 square meters. Its minaret was destroyed in Israeli artillery attacks three weeks ago.

Hamas, the Gaza-ruling militant group, condemned the Israeli attacks targeting an "important historical monument and a religious landmark in Gaza City."

It noted that the Israeli army has so far destroyed 104 mosques and three churches across the Gaza Strip.

Atid Abu Seif, Palestinian culture minister, said that Israel's attacks destroyed most parts of the old city of Gaza City, including historical buildings, mosques, museums and archaeological sites.

Gaza has been under massive Israeli siege and bombardment since Oct. 7, which has killed more than 17,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza-based Health Ministry.

The Israeli escalation came in retaliation for an attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 in Israel and took away more than 200 as hostages, according to Israeli reports. Enditem

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