Muslim Scholars Issue Fatwa for Jihad Against Israel

CAIRO (KI) -- Several prominent Muslim scholars have issued a rare religious decree or “fatwa”, calling on all Muslims and Muslim-majority countries to wage “jihad” against Israel after 17 months of devastating war against Palestinians residing in the besieged enclave.

Ali al-Qaradaghi, the secretary general of the International Union Of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), an organization previously led by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, called on all Muslim countries on Friday “to intervene immediately militarily, economically and politically to stop this genocide and comprehensive destruction, in accordance with their mandate”.
“The failure of the Arab and Islamic governments to support Gaza while it is being destroyed is considered by Islamic law to be a major crime against our oppressed brothers in Gaza,” he said in the decree comprising some 15 points.
Qaradaghi is one of the region’s most respected religious authorities and his decrees carry significant weight among the world’s 1.7 billion Sunni Muslims.
A “fatwa” is a non-binding Islamic legal ruling from a respected religious scholar, usually based on the Qur;an or the Sunnah - the sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).
“It is forbidden to support the infidel enemy [Israel] in its extermination of the Muslims in Gaza, regardless of the type of support,” Qaradaghi said.
“It is forbidden to sell weapons to it, or to facilitate its transport through ports or international waterways such as the Suez Canal, Bab al-Mandab, the Strait of Hormuz, or any other land, sea, or air means.
“The Committee [IUMS] issues a fatwa requiring an air, land, and sea blockade of the occupying enemy in support of our brothers in Gaza,” he added.
His statement, which was also backed by 14 other prominent Muslim scholars, called on all Muslim countries to “review their peace treaties” with Israel and for Muslims in the United States to pressure President Donald Trump to “fulfill his election promises to stop the aggression and establish peace”.
Despite repeatedly pledging to halt the war on the campaign trail and precipitating a temporary ceasefire shortly before he entered office in January, Trump reportedly “green-lit” Israel’s resumption of fighting last month.
On Saturday, at least 29 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip with airstrikes killing Palestinian civilians in the north and south.
Gaza’s health ministry said at least 60 Palestinians had been killed and another 162 wounded in Israeli attacks across the enclave in the last 24 hours.
It added that the latest figures brought the death toll in Gaza to 1,309 since Israel resumed war on March 18.
The overall toll of Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 now stands at 50,669 , with another 115,225 wounded, according to the ministry.
The latest wave of bombings has targeted schools, shelters, hospitals, food centers, Israeli-designated safe zones and a water desalination plant.
New video evidence emerged showing Israeli forces firing on clearly identifiable ambulances in an attack that killed 15 medics and emergency workers in Gaza.
Images and videos of intense strikes across Gaza also showed widespread destruction in densely populated neighborhoods, as many Palestinians shared what they described as their final messages to the world.
Journalist Muhammad Abu Mustafa expressed his frustration with the international community in several posts, writing: “Goodbye to the most treacherous community in history. In a few hours, Gaza will be erased. You will only find us in heaven.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian activist and journalist Aboud Battah urged people to speak up about Gaza, writing: “Talk about us. By God, we are being annihilated in silence.”