Istanbul: An eight-day-long conference will be held in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul beginning on Friday to discuss Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, as well as Islamic and humanitarian responsibilities in the face of modern history's worst disaster.
According to Anadolu Agency, the "Islamic and Humanitarian Responsibility: Gaza" conference is organized by the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) and the Foundation for Islamic Scholars in Trkiye. Mustafa Karatas, a foundation board member, announced during a press conference that the conference is scheduled to commence on Friday in Istanbul.
Karatas emphasized that more than 2.5 million people in Gaza are being subjected to total genocide, highlighting that the world is currently facing one of the gravest catastrophes in modern, even human, history. He described how the region is being attacked with lethal weapons, blockaded from food and water, and left to disease and deprivation.
"For the first time in history, in full view of the world, a Zionist terrorist government is implementing a declared plan to completely annihilate a Muslim population," Karatas said. "It has left no mosque or church, no hospital or school untouched. Homes, camps, and all aspects of life have been destroyed, erasing traces of humanity. Gaza has been turned not into a living space, but almost a stage of death."
Karatas pointed out that the crimes are not limited to Gaza alone, noting that the "Greater Israel" expansion project threatens Jordan, Egypt, and many other countries. He stressed that the upcoming conference aims to address these issues, bringing together over 100 authoritative Islamic scholars from more than 50 countries.
The conference, titled "Islamic and Humanitarian Responsibility: Gaza," seeks to mobilize the Islamic world and all of humanity to halt attacks, open humanitarian corridors, and deliver all necessary aid to Gaza's dignified population. It will kick off with a declaration and protest by scholars at Eyup Sultan Mosque, followed by speeches from delegation heads.
Between Sunday and next Thursday, 18 parallel workshops on key issues in Palestine will be held. The conference will conclude on August 29, with a final declaration read after Friday prayers at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.
Karatas emphasized that the Islamic world and all of humanity will never accept the crimes in Gaza. "Our conference will work with full force to increase societal and political pressure to ensure urgent aid, open border crossings, and deliver assistance to our hungry brothers and sisters trapped under the siege in Gaza," he said. Ali Muhyiddin al-Qaradaghi, president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, also read the Arabic text of the press release.