now they lay in ruins. like palmyra in syria, victims of war. these pictures show one of the oldest churches in the world before israel s assault began three months ago. this is what it looks like now after an israeli air strike in october. what s the reason? why? we re asking from god to bring peace in the area. we are here 2,000 years. we re not going to leave. we re still here. we ll continue our life. reporter: the church s father habib silas says 17 people died in the strike on the compound where people were taking
what s the reason? why? we re asking from god to bring peace in the area. we are here 2,000 years. we re not going to leave. we re still here. we ll continue our life. reporter: the church s father habib silas says 17 people died in the strike on the compound where people were e taking shelter. israel says s it was, quote, collateral damage and wasn t the intended target. but it s not the only historic site to have been destroyed. the grand mosque in gaza has history that is said to date back to the time of the philistines and has spent time as both a temple and a church before becoming a mosque. today, all that remains standing is the minaret. its librarary with historic