Muslim Council of Elders: Bahrain Declaration Reflects Arab Consensus on the Urgent Need to Halt Aggression on Gaza

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, commends the final statement (Bahrain Declaration) issued by the 33rd Arab Summit, held in the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Manama. The council emphasizes that the declaration reflects Arab consensus on the urgent need to halt aggression and lift the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid, rejecting any attempts of forced displacement, affirming the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, and calling for an international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations to find a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue. 

The council appreciates the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, for its efforts in launching several initiatives aimed at achieving peace and ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, as well as providing educational and healthcare services to those affected by conflicts and crises in the region, in cooperation and coordination between Bahrain and relevant organizations, and advancing Arab cooperation in the fields of financial technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Furthermore, the Muslim Council of Elders reaffirms its full support for all resolutions issued by the Arab Summit aimed at enhancing joint Arab action and finding effective solutions to all issues facing the Arab world. It also praises the final statement of the Arab Summit which calls on all nations of the world to promote the values of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and human fraternity and to reject all forms of terrorism, extremism, hatred, sectarianism, racism, bigotry, and discrimination. Likewise, it strongly opposes any support for armed groups or militias operating outside the sovereignty of states that are pursuing or executing external agendas that conflict with the interests of Arab states. The council also underscores solidarity with all Arab nations in defending their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and protecting their national institutions against any external attempts at aggression, imposition of influence, undermining sovereignty, or compromising Arab interests.