GAZA, Palestine

Anadolu on Tuesday captured the images of the Orthodox Cultural Center in Gaza, which was destroyed by the Israeli bombardment in the south of the blockaded enclave.

Abdulmunim al-Abesi, one of the displaced Palestinians who took shelter in the center in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, told Anadolu that some 500 people took shelter there.

"We took shelter in this center after Israel bombed the area. There were only displaced refugees in the building," he said.

As Israeli forces warned them to evacuate the building, he said they moved to the surrounding schools.

He added that their belongings, including blankets, food supplies and gas cylinders, were buried in the wreckage of the center which was completely destroyed.

The Orthodox Cultural Center was completely destroyed in Israel's attack on the Tel al-Hawa region.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Tuesday strongly condemned the Israeli army's bombing of the center.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including 8,525 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing calls for a cease-fire, saying it would be a "surrender" to Hamas.

An Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip has also cut fuel, electricity and water supplies to Gaza, and reduced aid deliveries are unable to satisfy the needs of the more than 2 million residents.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar