Muslim scholars stress need for hundreds of ships to head toward Gaza

: During conference on “Gaza

According to Taghrib News Agency, Salim Saqqaf, Deputy Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars and an Indonesian religious scholar, speaking at the ongoing conference — attended by 150 religious scholars from 50 countries in Istanbul — strongly criticized the international community’s indifference toward the atrocities in Gaza.

“What is happening in Gaza boggles the human mind. Imagine if, instead of 2.4 million people, there were animals — the world would rise up. But when it comes to the people of Gaza, the world has remained silent for months.”

Pointing to the need to break Gaza’s siege, Saqqaf said: “What must be done is to send a fleet of humanitarian aid to this region — not one ship, but hundreds. If hundreds of ships move at the same time, Israel cannot stop them.”
He also called on people of conscience to join this relief effort: “I invite the freedom‑seekers of the world to go to Gaza with humanitarian aid ships. Scholars and young people must take the lead in this call. If elder scholars cannot board ships, they can at least mobilize the youth to act.”
Bosnia stood firm; Gaza will stand firm too
Dr. Safvet Halilović from the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Zenica University, Bosnia and Herzegovina, said the resistance that began on October 7 was not only aimed at breaking the siege of Gaza but was also a reaction to attacks and disrespect toward Al‑Aqsa Mosque. For years, women and youth have been attacked and holy places desecrated. “The youth said, ‘We will not allow it,’ and took up resistance,” he noted.
Stating that this is an era of alliances, he added: “What happened in Bosnia in 1992 has not been forgotten. At that time, they also wanted to annihilate the Muslims, but they failed. Bosnia remained, we remained. By God’s permission, Gaza will also remain, because Gaza is the heritage of the Prophet (PBUH). Palestine is our first qibla and under God’s protection.”
One voice against the massacre
Abu Jarrah Soltani, former minister of Algeria, pointed to Western double standards on human rights, saying: “In the face of this barbarism that has killed 21,000 children and 65,000 people, the world remains silent — while every human life, before God, is as valuable as all of humanity.”
He stressed that a united voice against this situation must be raised. “Through the joint efforts of scholars, intellectual leaders, governments, and the people, we must say ‘stop’ to these massacres, end the war immediately, and open the gates,” he said.
Soltani also highlighted Turkey’s role: “Turkey has a key role in humanitarian aid and in breaking the siege and has taken major steps toward breaking Gaza’s blockade.”
Silence is betrayal of Gaza
Marwan Abu Ras, head of the Jerusalem Commission of the Palestinian Scholars Association, said: “The greatest responsibility of scholars is to cry out the truth in the face of international silence. The silence of state leaders is a major catastrophe. This silence creates a profound sense of betrayal for the people of Palestine, especially in Gaza. It is the duty of scholars to reveal the danger of this silence and betrayal and to declare that it is both a religious and a human crime.”
He stressed that what has happened in Gaza is not merely war but an outright genocide: “The people, women, children, and scholars have all been targeted. Around 200 religious scholars have been lost; but, by God’s will, a new generation of scholars will be trained. Universities will reopen, and new generations will be raised. Despite these losses, we will continue to resist.”
Our anger will now turn into action
In a joint statement issued within the framework of the “Gaza: An Islamic and Human Responsibility” conference — organized by the International Union of Muslim Scholars and the Islamic Scholars Foundation — it was emphasized that the Gaza issue is not just the issue of Palestine, but a common cause of the entire Ummah. The issues of Gaza and Jerusalem are a matter of faith and dignity for every Muslim, and at the same time, for every freedom‑loving person, they represent a universal human duty. “The unity of the Ummah and shouldering its vital issues is the only path to victory, dignity, and liberation,” it stated.
The statement further warned Israel: “The continued shedding of innocent blood and killing of defenseless civilians in Gaza will exhaust the patience of the Ummah and will have unpredictable consequences. Across the Islamic world and beyond, led by scholars, intellectual leaders, and communities, a widespread popular movement will arise; where there was silence, anger will rise — and that anger will now turn into action.”
The announcement concluded: “Only Almighty God knows our aim and will guide us to success.”
It is worth noting that the conference will continue until Thursday.