Egypt’s Al-Azhar condemns Israeli offensive in occupied West Bank

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning, condemned Saturday the ongoing Israeli offensive in the West Bank, calling it an attempt to "completely" eliminate Palestine and “Judaize” all of its occupied territories.

In a statement, Al-Azhar warned of an “Israeli plan being executed in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank, aimed at seizing ownership, Judaizing its landmarks, killing its Palestinian residents, and committing a new genocide, amidst unprecedented international collusion and UN inaction."

“We strongly condemn the Israeli aggression on West Bank cities, the destruction of a wide range of roads, facilities, and homes, the spilling of the blood of dozens, and the injury and arrest of hundreds," the statement said.

It also highlighted the dangers of this aggression on regional security and stability, calling on the international community and all active parties to "take responsibility for the horrendous and painful massacres committed by the Israeli killing machine against the people of Gaza, and what it is about to commit in the West Bank.”

On Wednesday, the Israeli army launched a major military operation in the northern West Bank, the largest in two decades, killing 22 Palestinians, according to Palestinian figures.

Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank amid a brutal Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in over 40,600 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7 last year.

At least 675 Palestinians have been killed, nearly 5,400 injured, and over 10,300 arrested in the occupied territory, according to Palestinian figures.

In a landmark opinion on July 19, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land unlawful and demanded the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala