The Muslim Council of Elders, under the leadership of His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, strongly condemns the racist statements made by Bezalel Smotrich, the Minister of Finance in the Israeli occupation government, in which he described the starvation of the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip as morally justified. The Council affirms that these statements not only reflect a low level of human values but also constitute a clear violation of all international norms and conventions that protect human rights and dignity. These remarks represent an extremist ideology that seeks to justify crimes against innocent Palestinian civilians.   

The Muslim Council of Elders warns of the continuous escalation of the situation in the Middle East and the ongoing negative repercussions of this escalation, which now pose a serious threat to regional and international stability and security, hindering international efforts aimed at establishing peace. The Council calls on the international community, human rights organizations, and all peace-loving forces to work towards an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, to provide international protection for the besieged residents of Gaza, and to ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and relief to them.

The Muslim Council of Elders commends the position of the European Union, France, and the United Kingdom, which condemned Minister Smotrich's statements and called on the Israeli occupation government to unequivocally distance itself from these remarks, describing the deliberate starvation of civilians as a war crime. The Council reaffirms its steadfast position in support of the Palestinian people's rights, including their right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

In a related context, the Muslim Council of Elders expresses its appreciation for the joint statement from the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States regarding the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. The Council also praises the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for joining this call, urging the concerned parties to respond to the resumption of urgent consultations on August 15th and reach an agreement to end the tragic situation in the Gaza Strip.