“Al-Azhar proudly salutes the efforts of the resistance of the Palestinian people and demands that the civilized world and the international community look with reason and wisdom at the longest occupation known in modern history, the occupation of Palestine by the Zionists,” the world’s leading Sunni Islamic institution said in its statement.

“This occupation is a stain on the forehead of humanity and the international community, which weighs things with two scales and knows only double standards when it comes to the Palestinian issue,” Al-Azhar added.

On Saturday morning, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, prompting Tel Aviv to declare a state of war.

Palestinian news agency WAFA announced that 232 Palestinians had been killed and 1697 wounded following Israel's attack on Gaza.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Israel rose to more than 200 with at least 1,100 wounded, Israel's rescue service said.

Al-Azhar praised the resistance of the Palestinian people and their “martyrs who have instilled in us the spirit of confidence and restored life to us after we thought it would never return,” praying to God to grant them patience, steadfastness, peace, and strength.

“Every occupation will eventually end, regardless of how long or short it lasts,” it added.