Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt’s al-Azhar mosque, affirmed that terrorist movements have a malicious agenda to distance Muslims from the Palestinian cause and involve them in internal conflicts that serve the occupation's interest.
As he received Hamas delegation headed by the movement's chief Ismail Haniya in Cairo on Thursday, he said that Palestine is a key national cause and therefore al-Azhar is keen to back it and remind the nation of Palestine's history and Arabism.
Haniya, in his turn, expressed gratitude to the tremendous support shown by al-Azhar towards the Palestinians, especially through "al-Azhar International Conference to Support Jerusalem", which restored the nation’s awareness towards the Palestinian cause.
The Hamas chief showed appreciation to the medical and aid convoys sent by al-Azhar to the Gaza Strip, adding that the crisis requires returning to al-Azhar's moderate intellect.
In March, al-Azhar decried the Israeli occupation forces' suppression of peaceful marches on the 42nd occasion of the Land Day and the Great March of Return. Back then, the Palestinians' right to determine their fate and struggle to restore their occupied land were highly stressed by al-Azhar.
Earlier, al-Azhar warned of consequences of the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
