This picture taken from Rafah shows smoke billowing following Israeli bombardments over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on February 13, 2024. Photo: AFP
“Al-Azhar warns the world of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe as a result of the silent compliance towards the dangerous Zionist plan to invade Rafah, which shelters approximately one and a half million refugees, who have fled their homes and lands in northern, central, and southern Gaza in search of safety,” according to a statement issued on Tuesday.
Al-Azhar's statement called for unity in confronting the crimes of the Zionist entity in Rafah, especially after it turned a deaf ear to the international calls from various influential forces in the international community.
It also emphasized that neglecting to provide relief to Palestinians — today, not tomorrow — will result in the death of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, including women, the elderly, and children, fleeing from the fires of the Zionist aggression, adding a new genocide to the record of atrocities committed by the Zionist entity for over 75 years.
Al-Azhar's scholars urged, in the statement, the international community and influential powers to assume responsibility before humanity regarding the killing and annihilation, the prevention of adequate humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza, and the elimination of all aspects of life in the besieged strip.
On Monday, the Palestinian health ministry announced that around 100 Palestinians, including children, were killed in heavy overnight airstrikes as Israel announced the rescue of two captives in the south Gaza city of Rafah.
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