GRAPHIC IMAGES: Zoo’s Abandoned Animals Turn To Mummified Stone Statues

THESE are the rare and exotic zoo animals left to become bizarre mummified corpses at a neglected zoo.

Dozens of animals, including tigers, monkeys and crocs, have been left to rot by keepers into stone-like statues.

The Khan Younis – becoming notorious as by far the globe's worst zoo – was abandoned when the Gaza-Israel conflict intensified in the Middle East in 2014.

Mohammed Awaida opened the South Forest Park complex in 2007 and apparently invested hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Gaza Wedding Singer, Mohammed Assaf Wins Arab Idol

Celebrations have erupted across the Palestinian territories at news that a wedding singer from the Gaza Strip has won the Arab Idol talent TV show. Mohammed Assaf, 23, was a virtual unknown until a few weeks ago but has now become a local hero. Millions across the region watched the contest, held in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Fireworks were being set off in Gaza City and East Jerusalem as revellers thronged the streets.

Assaf was declared the winner on Saturday evening, a day after he competed in a final against two other singers - Ahmed Jamal from Egypt and Farah Youssef from Syria. The talent contest has been broadcast on the Beirut-based MBC TV channel since March.