Al-Azhar Denounces Israeli Officials’ Remarks on “Greater Israel” as Colonial Ambitions

 Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif issued a sharp condemnation of statements by Israeli officials promoting the idea of a so-called “Greater Israel,” calling the remarks “provocative” and a reflection of “an entrenched colonial mindset.”

In a statement, Al-Azhar said the comments revealed “extremist ambitions” aimed at seizing the wealth of regional nations and “devouring what remains of Palestinian land,” in defiance of the will and resources of the region’s peoples.

“These political delusions will not change the truth in any way,” the statement read. “They are an attempt to distract from the crimes, massacres, and genocide being committed in Gaza, with the aim of erasing Palestine from the world map.”

Al-Azhar reaffirmed that Palestine “is pure Arab and Islamic land” and rejected what it described as “extremist religious narratives” promoted by Israel to test the resolve of Arab and Muslim states. It urged regional nations to unite against such rhetoric, strengthen joint political and diplomatic efforts, and expose “the falsity of the occupier’s narratives.”

The statement concluded with a pledge that Al-Aqsa Mosque and other sacred sites “will never be easy prey,” insisting that “the right will inevitably return to its due owners” and that “falsehood, no matter how long it lasts, will ultimately perish.