The Jerusalem Post April 7, 2025 Earlier this week, the Union’s “Ijtihad and Fatwa Committee” crafted the edict addressing what they termed "the ongoing aggression against Gaza."
The declaration makes several extensive demands, including appeals for 1. a thorough besieging of Israel "by land, sea, and air" 2. while encouraging "prompt military intervention by Islamic countries" to bolster Palestinian armed struggle 3. across multiple dimensions – military campaigns, economic areas, and the diplomatic arena.
The religious scholars cited Hamas’s casualty statistics in Gaza, which are claimed to exceed 50,000, describing the situation as "methodical genocide conducted with explicit backing from the United States, amidst Arab quietude and passivity from nations across the Islamic world."
On the economic front, the council strengthened previous positions 1. endorsing boycotts of "enterprises that support the Zionist entity," 2. and declaring that affluent Muslims must "participate in jihad through financial means and equip militants."
The theological directive elaborates on what it considers duties for Muslims at varying levels of proximity to the conflict.
Strikingly, the fatwa deems “the enemy”, meaning Israel, a Kafir, or infidel, in stark contrast to some other traditional views of Islam towards Judaism as part of the “People of the Book.”
The council's stance extends to commercial measures as well, proclaiming it religiously forbidden to furnish Israel with "petroleum, natural gas, and all commodities that assist in their military campaign," including "nourishment and beverages while Gaza's population faces starvation."
