PA starts demolishing synagogues in Gaza

Palestinian security forces have started demolishing the Jewish synagogues left in the Gaza Strip after Israel completed its last withdrawal from the coastal area, security sources said Monday.

Witnesses said as bulldozers started demolishing the synagogue in the Nitsarim settlement in the eastern Gaza city, hundreds of Palestinians climbed to the roof of the synagogue and raised the Palestinian flags, calling “God is great.”

After that, they set fire to the synagogue, the witnesses added.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said earlier Monday that all buildings left by Israelis will be leveled to allow room for construction of new projects serving the Palestinian people.

Abbas also toured former Israeli settlements of Elli Sinai, Dogit and Nisaneet in the northern Gaza Strip.

Abbas told reporters that the Palestinian people will continue the path of struggle till all Palestinian people are liberated and a Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital.

“This is a new stage: the stage of liberating, building and independence. The Palestinian National Authority will spend all efforts to return hope to the people,” Abbas said.

“The next step is to end the occupation of the West Bank and to establish our state,” Abbas added.

Abbas also promised to adopt appropriate measures to handle 97 percent of the settlements in Gaza belonging to the government.

Israel completed its final stage of withdrawal early Monday, ending its 38-year occupation of the Gaza Strip.

Twenty-five synagogues were left intact by the Israeli army.