Egypt’s Al-Azhar calls for breaking 'inhuman’ Israeli siege on Gaza hospitals

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning, called Monday on the free people of the world and international organizations to break the Israeli siege of Gaza’s hospitals.

In a statement, it described the Israeli army’s attacks on the enclave’s hospitals as "inhuman" and urged the international community to bring Israel to account for the genocide and war crimes it has committed in Gaza.

Israel “does not know the meaning of humanity and life, for the genocidal massacres and war crimes it committed,” it said.

The Sunni religious institution also said the silence over Israel’s crimes in Gaza is "a stain on the conscience of humanity and the international community."

Earlier in the day, Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza, said there is no safe place to evacuate injured people and newborn babies from Al-Shifa Hospital, as the Israeli army has been encircling it for three days.

"There are hundreds of injured people who can't leave the hospital," he said in a statement.

As of Sunday, local authorities in Gaza said 22 hospitals out of 34 had gone out of service as a result of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 38th day, at least 11,180 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,700 women and children, and more than 28,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings including hospitals, mosques and churches have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,200, according to official figures.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar