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Muslim Council of Elders denounces smear campaigns targeting Egypt's support for Palestine - Foreign Affairs

Muslim Council of Elders denounces smear campaigns targeting Egypt's support for Palestine - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly3 days ago
The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb, on Friday condemned what it described as baseless propaganda aimed at discrediting Egypt's longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.
In an official statement, the council praised Egypt's historic and central role—both at the leadership and popular levels—in defending the rights of the Palestinian people. It also commended the efforts of other Arab nations in supporting Palestine and delivering humanitarian aid.
The council lauded Egypt's initiatives to end the war in Gaza and promote Palestinian national reconciliation, reaffirming Cairo's enduring role as a key regional actor in the Palestinian struggle.
It further expressed appreciation for Egypt's firm stance in international forums, and its political, diplomatic, and humanitarian support to Palestinians in Gaza, describing it as a reflection of Egypt's deep Arab and humanitarian commitments.
The council called on the international community and influential powers to back Egypt and Arab states in their efforts to end the war on Gaza and secure a just resolution to the Palestinian issue.
It reiterated the need to uphold Palestinians' legitimate right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital as a basis for achieving regional peace and stability.
The statement follows Egypt's sharp rebuke on Thursday of what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as a 'malicious propaganda campaign' led by certain groups and organizations seeking to distort Egypt's support for Palestine.
The ministry dismissed accusations that Egypt had contributed to the blockade of Gaza or impeded humanitarian aid, calling such claims 'completely baseless.'
Since Wednesday, 327 aid trucks carrying food and supplies have entered Gaza through the Zikim and Karm Abu Salem crossings—the largest delivery since Israel imposed a full blockade on 2 March, driving the Strip's population of over two million into what rights groups describe as a 'man-made famine.'
The US and Israel withdrew from ceasefire talks on Thursday, blaming Hamas for the stalemate, despite the group stating it had responded constructively and remained committed to a deal that would end the war and ease Gaza's suffering.
The move comes amid mounting global outrage over Israel's continued genocide, blockade, and mass starvation campaign in Gaza, where at least 40 people died from hunger in July alone. The stalled deal had included a 60-day ceasefire, hostage exchanges, and the lifting of restrictions to allow life-saving aid into the Strip.
Since October 2023, Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has claimed the lives of nearly 59,700 Palestinians in the besieged enclave,
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