Gaza construction workers find 31 Roman-era tombs

Construction workers at a building site in northern Gaza have uncovered 31 Roman-era tombs dating from the first century CE, the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group says.

The tombs were discovered near the town of Beit Lahia as work began on an Egyptian-funded residential area, part of the $500 million reconstruction package Cairo pledged after the 11-day war in May between Israel and armed groups in the Gaza Strip.

Naji Sarhan, an official at Gaza’s Ministry of Public Works, confirms the find and said there is “evidence that there are other graves” at the site.

Construction work is halted and technicians from Gaza’s Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism are sent to the site to catalogue gravestones and artifacts, officials say.

One technician, who requested anonymity, says the tombs are believed to be part of a cemetery linked to a nearby Roman site in Balakhiya.

Hamas announced finding the first tomb earlier this month.

Last month, Hamas reopened the remains of a fifth-century Byzantine church following a years-long restoration effort backed by foreign donors.