Director General of MTA, Dr. Moin Sadeq, told WAFA that Israeli troops razed yesterday (Tuesday) a site of huge remains of Byzantium Church, close to the shore of Deir Albalah City, south of Gaza.

He said that the site consisted of floors made of mosaic constructed in 586 AD, pointing that MTA reconstructed it in Arle City in France in 2000.

Sadeq asserted that such Israeli aggression is a "new phase of Israeli series of aggressions against archeological sites and historic buildings in Palestinian cities and towns".

The DG mentioned that, through the destruction of Palestinian antiquities, "Israel tries to burry the evidences of the Arab roots in Palestine".

He added that such acts target the destruction of tourism in Palestine which already based on the cultural heritage and Christian and Islamic shrines.

Sadeq recalled an important archeological site in Jabalia (north of Gaza) during the last offensive, in September, 2004.

Sadeq expressed his worry as Israelis may destroy more archeological sites before their withdrawal from Gaza, mentioning that one of the Israeli outpost, north of Gaza, locates on a Byzantium "Church of Baptist Bishop John" established in 550 AD.

He recalled that the Israeli stolen dozens of antiquities from Gaza, and carried them to Israeli museums.

Sadeq called on the UNESCO to intervene to protect the Palestinian archeological and historical sites.

He also mentioned that the construction of the Apartheid Wall causes the destruction of a lot of ancient sites.