All Faiths Rest in Peace At English Cemetery in Gaza

Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Hindu soldiers from Germany, Australia, France, Turkey, Britain and India are gathered in peace in the shade of  jacaranda and poinciana trees, stretching out over 40 square kilometers [15.4 square miles] of green grass. They are surrounded by a serenity that is hard to retain in a crowded city like Gaza, except in the Gaza War Cemetery, which is located along the Salah al-Din Highway, east of Gaza City.

These soldiers came to fight alongside the Allied forces against the Ottoman Empire during World War I in 1914-1918. They fought in three major battles, the largest being the battle of Wadi Gaza, as well as the Mantar battle. The battlefield was their final resting place. They were buried in the cemetery established by the coalition forces, known as the "Commonwealth.” The Gaza War Cemetery includes nearly 4,000 tombs, in addition to a smaller English cemetery comprising 750 graves. It is located in the center of the Gaza Strip in the region of al-Zawayida. According to the cemetery’s archives, battles were fierce due to the resilience of the Gaza-Beersheba defense line at the time.

The colors of seedlings and flowers look bright against the backdrop of the green grass stretching out between the graves that are emblazoned with the words, “Known Unto God,” and the name, age, country and military rank of each soldier.

There was a grave inscribed with the name of a 17-year-old soldier. He must be the youngest of them all. He died on April 19, 1917. Not far away from his grave is one of a 19-year-old soldier who died the very same day. Walking past 20 rows of graves all adorned with crosses, you will find the graves of a French soldier, four Germans and on the side there is a small group of graves of Egyptian soldiers.