Approximately 50 Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims chant and prostrate themselves in worship near an ancient tomb – a tomb located on the grounds of Ashkelon’s Barzilai hospital, which is known for treating war casualties from the Gaza Strip. The tomb is believed by the Shi’ites to be the burial place of Hussein ibn Ali, Mohammed’s grandson, Reuters reported.
Their leader, Sheikh Moiz Tarmal, told Reuters, “We believe that if we pray here, God will listen.”
Both Sunnis and Shi'ites see Israel as an enemy. Shi'ite Iran backs Hamas, whilethe Sunni faction runs the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
“On the one hand, we have a sacred place for the Muslims, for the Shia Muslims, and on the other hand 12 km (7 miles) south of here we have other Muslims that shoot rockets at us. Last year, during Operation Protective Edge, our Iron Dome system intercepted two Hamas rockets over the hospital," Barzilai’s deputy director, Dr. Ron Lobel commented.