Denunciation of some governments’ support for perpetration of massacres CAIRO: Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Sunni Islam’s oldest and foremost seat of learning and one of the most prominent centers of Sunni religious orthodoxy in the world, has issued a strong condemnation of the massacre of civilians committed by Israeli forces at the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip. Palestinians remain in shock over Saturday’s death toll following the massacre that killed 274 and wounded nearly 700 as Israel’s forces rescued four hostages. Al-Azhar denounced the continued “support and blessing of some regimes and governments for the criminality of this brutal entity and its perpetration of bloody massacres against defenseless civilians.” Al-Azhar asserted to the “entire world that a genocide war” was taking place in the land of Palestine. While condemning and denouncing Israel’s massacres, Al-Azhar “is still calling out to the international community and people of free conscience to stop the bloodshed in Gaza and protect and offer relief to civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.” It has called on Israel to be held accountable for its actions and prosecuted for its violations of international laws and norms. It called on the international community not to remain silent following the atrocities. Al-Azhar said: “The massacres of Zionist terrorists, who wreaked havoc on Earth, are a disgrace to humanity.” The Egyptian government joined the growing condemnation of Israel in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians as a severe breach of international law, humanitarian law, and human rights. It said Egypt held Israel legally and morally responsible for the attack. Egypt demanded that Israel comply with its obligations as the occupying power, and urged the Israelis to stop targeting Palestinian civilians and to cease destroying infrastructure in Gaza. It called on international parties and the UN Security Council to intervene immediately to stop the war in Gaza and end the humanitarian crisis that has claimed more than 36,000 lives. Egypt emphasized the need to achieve a ceasefire throughout the Gaza Strip and to ensure the full and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian and relief aid through all land crossings into the besieged enclave.