Here is the Grand Imam’s Deleted Urgent Global Action Call to Save Gaza "Updated"

On Tuesday, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb issued a global call on social media to save Gaza from what he described as a genocidal famine imposed by Israel.

Just a few hours after its release, the statement was deleted from both social media and Egyptian news websites—sparking public outrage and fueling speculation as to why Al-Azhar would retract such a powerful declaration. Rumours have been circulating ever since.

By Wednesday, Al-Azhar issued a follow-up statement explaining that the original call was withdrawn out of concern it might be used as a pretext to stall or obstruct the progress of ongoing truce negotiations.

According to Mada Masr, the decision to pull the statement came at the request of Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty, who is currently touring West Africa.

I honestly don’t know whether it was Al-Azhar, the Grand Imam himself, the Foreign Minister, or someone else who made the final decision—but I do know there was no need to delete it. If anything, the retraction caused more damage. Now, social media is flooded with rumours that Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb has been placed under arrest.

I think that’s not true. I expect he’ll appear within hours—either at an Al-Azhar event, in a meeting with visiting VIP, or leading the presidential Friday prayers in New Alamein.

Honestly, I wish they had left it up. At this point, removing it didn’t change anything—except making things worse.

Now, here’s the statement translated into English. I was among the very few who managed to save a copy before it disappeared.

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Calls for Urgent Global Action

to Save Gaza from a Genocidal Famine

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif issues a sorrowful cry and a global call to conscience, urging people of integrity around the world—those with wisdom, reason, and moral responsibility—to take immediate action to rescue the people of Gaza from the deadly famine imposed upon them.

This is a call to those who still possess a living conscience, who believe in the core values of human rights and dignity, and who defend the rights of the oppressed and vulnerable to live in safety and dignity. Gaza's civilians are facing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe imposed by an unprecedented and inhumane siege—an act of brutality that history has rarely witnessed.

Today, the human conscience stands paralyzed as it watches thousands of children and elderly people die—some quietly, others while desperately gasping for breath—due to hunger, dehydration, the lack of medicine, and the collapse of health facilities that can no longer save lives.

Al-Azhar strongly condemns the Israeli occupation’s deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war against Gaza’s civilians, who now beg for a crust of bread or a sip of water. Israeli forces have deliberately targeted aid distribution centers and humanitarian convoys, committing war crimes in full view of the world. This is not only a military or political assault—it is a campaign of extermination cloaked in silence, apathy, and complicit language.

This is a partnership in genocide. The perpetrators will be held accountable by divine justice and the court of history. A day will come when they pay for their crimes, no matter how long it takes. And on that day, those who supported or justified this crime will remember the eternal words of wisdom: “We ate the white leaves of the tree of thorns.”

Al-Azhar, sharing the pain of the nation and the world, demands that active and influential global powers take the strongest possible stance against the occupation’s crimes. These powers must act urgently to stop the systematic killing, allow the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid and relief supplies, and provide immediate treatment for the sick and wounded whose conditions have worsened due to the destruction of hospitals and clinics—an outright violation of every divine law, humanitarian code, and international agreement.

Al-Azhar cannot and will not remain silent in the face of this shameful global silence. We call on international bodies, world leaders, and every free and honorable person to stand against the forced starvation of Gaza’s people, the displacement of civilians from their homes, and the killing of innocents.

Whoever accepts this horror bears full responsibility before history, conscience, and divine judgment. The eyes that weep, the souls that grieve, and the starving bellies of Gaza's children will be the ultimate testimony to this crime.
“And those who wronged will know what fate awaits them.” (Qur’an 26:227)

Finally, Al-Azhar calls upon every Muslim to continue praying for the oppressed, using the same supplication that has always protected the truth:
“O God, You who revealed the Book, who drives away clouds and defeats confederates—defeat them and grant us victory over them.”

I do not know. I do not think that it can impact the talks because the videos from Gaza are worse. It was better to leave the statement as it is. Ironically, more people read it when it was deleted, thanks to those who kept screenshots. 

One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished and cases are increasing every day according to the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA)

Updated on 24/7/2025 : This round of talks in Doha came to an end yet again with no results as the Israel and US want Hamas to give up more concessions. 

I think Al-Azhar should re-publish the call.