According to Al-Mathaf's owner, Jawdat N. Khoudary, "The idea of the museum is to show our deep roots from many cultures in Gaza.
[4] The New York Times describes the museum building, made partly of stones recovered from old houses, old railroad ties and marble columns discovered by Gazan fishermen and construction workers, as "stunning".
[6] Al-Mathaf's owner Khoudary noting "Hamas’s rule and the conservative piety of the population" has chosen not to display some of the objects he owns – such as a statue of Aphrodite whose gown is too revealing, images of other ancient deities and oil lamps featuring menorahs.
[4] In January 2009, reports surfaced detailing damage to the Al Mat'haf museum in Gaza following Israel’s 22-day air and land strikes during Operation Cast Lead.
Jawdat Khoudary, speaking to reporters, recounted his return to the museum in February 2009, once Israeli ground forces had withdrawn and a tentative cease-fire was in place.
The museum building itself suffered structural harm, with fallen ceiling tiles and walls bearing the scars of bullet and tank round impacts.