New Delhi

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, who is known for building bridges between communities for peace and understanding has said that it’s the Government of Israel and not the Jews who are to be blamed for the situation in the war-hit Gaza in Palestine.

Al-Issa was speaking to Riz Khan on his show on the Al-Arabiya English news channel on the eve of Eid-ul Fitr and the Israel-Hamas war entering the seventh month.

Al-Issa explained that the situation in Gaza was not the cause of conflict between Muslims and Jews. Also, he said, that ending the war is the responsibility of the Israeli government and not of Jews.

“I’d like to point out that the Israeli government is to blame for the situation in Gaza and not the Jews who object to the current massacre,” he said.

“It’s extremely important to differentiate between the actions of Israel’s current government and Jews as a religion or followers of a religion.”

Al-Issa has become a renowned voice for moderation and cooperation within Islam and beyond - building bridges with faith leaders and governments across the globe.

During the wide-ranging interview, Al-Issa also said the October 7 massacre of women and children (by Hamas in Israel) was “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”

 “We’ve seen the heartbreaking situation in Israel and the extremely painful situation that happened on October 7. We have to be fair here. The reaction and mass revenge and killing women and children is heartbreaking and unacceptable under any pretext whatsoever,” Al-Issa added.

But despite this, we have to do justice and that is, the responsibility for the situation in Gaza lies not with the followers of the Jewish religion, but with the Israeli government.

Al Issa’s comments have come at a time when the tension between the two Semitic religions is growing over the tragic incidents triggered by the October 7 terrorist strikes by Hamas in which 1200 people were killed, women raped and paraded as war trophies and some 250 taken as hostages. Of these half were released in a staggered manner, 43 are confirmed dead while the rest are with Hamas.

The State of Israel launched a massive attack on Gaza to flush out Hamas and claimed to have killed 13000 Hamas cadres and destroyed thousands of miles of underground tunnels which were used by the organization. Palestine’s health ministry claimed 33,000 people have been killed in Israeli action in Gaza so far.

Dr. Muhammad Al-Eisa is currently on a nine-day visit to Pakistan, where he will lead the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers and meet important personalities of the country, including the inauguration of the Sirat Museum in Islamabad.

The Secretary General of the Muslim World League is considered a guiding figure for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030, a comprehensive plan of action to modernize Saudi Arabia.

Al Issa also claimed to Riz Khan that the reason for Islamophobia in the world at the moment was not necessarily hatred but misconceptions about Islam. He said it is important to address these misconceptions.

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“They (people who have misconceptions about Islam) should try to understand Islam from its original source. So that they can understand what Islam really is. Do not try to understand Islam in the light of interpretations of Islam by some people, because these interpretations do not come within the scope of Islam. Some interpretations may be extreme in them.'