Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo
In a statement, Al-Azhar said the decision was made after its media centre closely monitored public reactions on social media regarding the retracted statement.
The world’s leading Sunni Islamic institution explained that the decision stemmed from the responsibility it bears before God towards Arab and Islamic nations' issues, foremost among which is the Palestinian cause and supporting Gaza's oppressed people.
"Stopping the daily bloodshed in Gaza is a higher priority for Al-Azhar," it affirmed.
Moreover, Al-Azhar expressed hope that the negotiations would result in an immediate ceasefire and the provision of the direly needed aid to the oppressed people of Gaza.
Late Tuesday, the institution released a statement calling for urgent international intervention to save the Gaza people from the near-famine conditions imposed by the Israeli army.
The statement spotlighted the plight of Palestinian people, denounced the global silence toward their suffering, and urged people of conscience from all over the world to act immediately.
However, shortly after the statement's release, Al-Azhar deleted it from its official Facebook page.
This came as the retracted statement sparked widespread controversy, with many believing it, coming from such a prominent and official religious body, could negatively impact ongoing Gaza truce talks.
Short link: