The British outlet Middle East Eye reported that the Egyptian presidency exerted pressure on the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, to retract a statement that condemned the Israeli occupation’s use of “genocidal starvation tactics” in Gaza.
According to sources close to both Al-Azhar and the presidency, the statement was deleted due to its strong language, which accused unnamed governments of complicity in what Al-Azhar described as Israel’s “full-fledged genocide” in Gaza.
Al-Azhar had initially published the statement on Wednesday, calling for urgent action to stop the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza. The institution later announced that it had deleted the statement, citing concerns over its potential impact on ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
In its retraction, Al-Azhar stated:
“We withdrew the statement in full consciousness before God, upon realising it may affect the current humanitarian truce negotiations in Gaza that aim to save innocent lives.”
Al-Azhar added:
“We prioritised stopping the daily bloodshed in Gaza, hoping that ongoing talks would lead to an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of basic necessities denied to the oppressed Palestinian people.”
Presidency Behind the Removal
Two sources close to Al-Azhar and the Egyptian presidency confirmed to Middle East Eye that the statement was deleted shortly after its Tuesday publication, following a direct request from the office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The reason for the deletion, the sources said, was the statement’s explicit reference to third-party governments as complicit in the “systematic genocide” taking place in Gaza.
Deleted Statement from Al-Azhar
In the deleted statement, Al-Azhar had written:
“Al-Azhar firmly affirms that the deliberate, deadly starvation imposed by this abhorrent occupation on the people of Gaza — people seeking only a scrap of bread or a cup of water — alongside the targeting of refugee shelters and aid distribution centres with live ammunition, constitutes a complete and systematic act of genocide.”
The statement continued:
“Moreover, anyone supplying this entity with weapons, or encouraging it with complicit decisions or hypocritical statements, is a partner in this genocide.”
It added:
“Al-Azhar, before God, declares its absolute rejection of the shameful global silence, the disturbing international inaction, and any call to displace the people of Gaza from their land.”
Context: Gaza on the Brink of Famine
Egypt plays a central role as a mediator in indirect negotiations between the Israeli occupation and Hamas.
Since March 2, the Israeli-imposed blockade on Gaza has prevented the entry of UN and partner humanitarian aid, pushing Gaza’s population of 2.1 million to the edge of famine.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 115 Palestinians — including 80 children — have died of starvation since March. On Monday alone, 15 deaths were recorded due to malnutrition.
