GAZA – Amidst rubble and relentless airstrikes, a two-story building with a towering minaret continues to stand firm: the Daarut Tauhiid (DT) Gaza Mosque. More than just a house of worship, the mosque has become a symbol of solidarity from the people of Indonesia and a vital humanitarian center for the besieged residents of Gaza.
Built by DT Peduli as a tangible expression of compassion from Indonesian Muslims to their brothers and sisters in Palestine, construction of the mosque began on July 31, 2015, and was officially inaugurated five months later on December 31, 2015, by DT Peduli’s spiritual leader, KH. Abdullah Gymnastiar (Aa Gym), alongside local community figures in Gaza.
Constructed on waqf (endowment) land owned by Gaza’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, the mosque spans approximately 243–248 square meters and accommodates 450–500 worshippers. Its strategic location within a densely populated area has made it a haven for residents and a hub of daily life.
The mosque functions far beyond religious rituals. It has evolved into a Baitul Qur’an (House of the Qur’an) with seven active classes hosting around 155 to 200 Qur’an students. Every verse memorized here serves as a beacon of hope amid uncertainty and fear.
In times of deepening crisis, the mosque also serves as a center for humanitarian relief. A public kitchen, known as the Open Kitchen & Hot Meals program, operates in the vicinity of the mosque. On June 25–26, 2025, it provided over 1,100 people from 254 families with freshly prepared meals.
Food aid efforts also include distributing fresh produce. On July 1, 2025, around 350 families received bundles of nutritious local vegetables, including molokhia—a staple green rich in nutrients—helping to maintain food security for the local community.
Threats and Resilience
By mid-July, the crisis intensified. Residents near the DT Gaza Mosque were ordered to evacuate as the area was reported to be under imminent military takeover by Israeli forces. This development has placed the mosque, its Qur’an students, and DT Peduli’s humanitarian team in grave danger.
One of the few who remain is Sheikh Yasin, the mosque’s imam and DT Peduli Gaza’s local representative. Though his family and fellow volunteer educator Ustadza Wafa have evacuated, Sheikh Yasin has chosen to stay in his home near the mosque.
That decision has come at a cost. In a recent strike near the DT Gaza office and mosque, Sheikh Yasin sustained a head injury from falling debris. Several lives were lost in the attack.
Despite his wounds and the ongoing siege, Sheikh Yasin remains grateful to God.
“Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds, in every circumstance. The injury I sustained was minor, caused by the bombing of our neighbor’s house without warning. If not for Allah’s protection, we might have been counted among the martyrs. Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best protector,” he said on Monday (July 21, 2025, Western Indonesian Time).
The DT Gaza Mosque is more than just bricks and mortar. It represents a beacon of hope amid devastation, a final stronghold of humanitarian values in a place that has lost nearly everything. Amid the ruins and the thunder of bombs, prayers still rise from within—strengthening hearts that are weary but not defeated.
As the crisis worsens, the presence of the DT Gaza Mosque becomes ever more vital. It is no longer just a sanctuary for Gaza, but a symbol for the global Muslim community that the light of humanity must never be extinguished—no matter how dark the sky of war may become.
Editor: Agus ID