Al-Azhar condemns Israel’s brutal crimes in Lebanon, calls for urgent international intervention

CAIRO – 9 April 2026: Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif - Egypt’s top Islamic Sunni institute-  condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the brutal crimes perpetrated by the Israeli occupying entity in various areas of Lebanon, which have resulted in the death of dozens of victims and the injury of hundreds of innocent civilians. 

In a statement issued on Thursday, Al-Azhar affirmed that these attacks constitute a grave escalation and a flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian laws and conventions.

Al-Azhar further stressed that the targeting of innocent civilians by the occupying entity reflects its persistent inclination toward aggression and bloodshed, its disregard for human and moral values, and its entrenched approach of fueling wars and spreading chaos, with no regard for the sanctity of innocent lives. 

It warned of attempts to ignite the region with the aim of undermining the current truce and ceasefire agreement. 

Al-Azhar also emphasized that the absence of effective international and legal accountability has emboldened the occupying power to persist in its criminal conduct and commit further atrocities, to the extent that it now poses a serious threat to regional security and stability.

Al-Azhar called upon the international community to act urgently to halt these crimes and to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities in protecting civilians, preserving Lebanon’s unity, stability, and full sovereignty over its entire territory. Al-Azhar said it prays to Almighty Allah to safeguard Lebanon and its people.

Israeli airstrikes on densely populated areas across Lebanon since early on Wednesday have killed at least 254 and injured 1,165 more, with most casualties in the capital, Beirut.

Lebanon’s Civil Defense Directorate reported the casualties on Wednesday in Beirut and its southern suburbs (Dahieh); Baalbek and Hermel in the east; Nabatieh, Sidon, and Tyre in the south; and Aley in Mount Lebanon.

Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the war with Hezbollah broke out last month in conjunction with the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

In a statement released Wednesday, Egypt expressed its total condemnation and denunciation of this brutal aggression, noting the deliberate and systematic targeting of vital civilian facilities and infrastructure.

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the strikes as a blatant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as well as a grave breach of the rules of international humanitarian law.