Statement by the Supreme Council of Religious Affairs of Turkey On the Ongoing Occupation, Genocide and Exile in Gaza

Nearly a century ago, an unjust and unlawful occupation began in the Palestinian territories; this situation has continued systematically through oppression, torture, exile, and massacres taking on a drastically different dimension since October 7, 2023. With religious, moral, and humanitarian values, as well as international legal norms disregarded, a brutal massacre and horrific genocide have been committed in Gaza. The entire population has been brutally targeted, regardless of whether they are children, women, elderly, or sick; tens of thousands have been slaughtered, over a hundred thousand civilians have been injured; and the basic humanitarian rights of people - such as access to food, water, electricity, shelter, and medical care - have been deliberately and ruthlessly denied. The oppression has intensified with each passing day, civilian settlements, places of worship, schools, and hospitals have been heavily bombarded, resulting in horrific destruction.
While this situation, unfolding before the eyes of the world and constituting a crime in every respect, remains undeniable, plans have also emerged to forcibly exile Gazans from their own homeland to other countries—an idea that defies reason, religious and humanitarian values, and universal legal norms. All these actions constitute oppression and crimes against humanity that must be opposed by all people of conscience, especially Muslims. 
The religion of Islam fundamentally acknowledges that every individual, solely by being human, possesses inviolable fundamental rights, such as the right to life and property, without any additional condition. Islam regards the unjust killing of a single person as a crime as grave as killing all of humanity. This principle is a shared doctrine of all religions. Furthermore, it is assured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that all international legal norms have been structured accordingly.
Considering all this, the following points are of importance from both an Islamic and humanitarian perspective:
1-    Preventing massacres and genocide, especially in Gaza but also worldwide, standing in full solidarity with those who suffer oppression, and striving for justice and righteousness are both Islamic and humanitarian obligations.
2-    The unjust and unlawful occupation of Palestinian lands, along with ongoing efforts to make the occupation permanent through oppression, intimidation, killings, and exile, has no legitimacy whatsoever.
3-    Any direct or indirect support of the oppressors and occupiers constitutes moral and religious accountability. Such actions should be avoided, and this stance must be maintained with utmost sensitivity. Supporting oppression is oppression itself.
4-    All Muslims must strengthen their shared stance against this oppression, occupation, exile, and genocide.
5-    To stop the atrocity committed against the Palestinian people, all institutions and organizations of the Islamic world must mobilize all their resources.
6-    Necessary steps must be taken immediately to rebuild Gaza and return it to its rightful owners, the Palestinian people.