Exclusive: Senior UK Muslim clerics condemn Hamas attacks on Israel in landmark statement
15 Muslim clerics also condemn ‘excessive force’ by Israel but don’t apportion blame for hospital strike
Some of Britain’s most senior Muslim leaders have said they “denounce Hamas’s killing and abduction of innocent people” on 7 October and have steered clear of apportioning blame for the Gaza hospital killings.
In a significant intervention by leading Muslim clerics in the UK on the war between Hamas and Israel, clerics say they “unequivocally condemn the killing of civilians” in both Israel and Gaza, in a statement seen by Jewish News.
Signed by some of the most influential figures in the British Muslim community, it includes condemnation of the IDF’s “excessive” use of force and calls for humanitarian aid to be let into the Gaza Strip.
In the letter, the 15 imams and scholars urged “restraint from Israel”, saying: “We denounce Hamas’s killing and abduction of innocent people on 7 October as well as the Israeli military’s subsequent use of excessive force.”
The statement is significant because, until now, there has been a perceived reluctance from some representatives of the British Muslim community to publicly criticise Hamas’s actions for fear of being seen to be criticising all Palestinians.
The religious leaders, however, were careful to draw a distinction, saying: “The complete siege of Gaza has resulted in immense suffering and recent actions are intensifying a humanitarian crisis of untold proportions upon Palestinians, who are not responsible for the actions of Hamas.”
As the number of anti-Jewish incidents increases across Europe, the faith leaders say they “utterly condemn all acts of antisemitism or Islamophobia that have taken place on our streets here in Britain,” adding that “no-one should feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods and in this country”.
Among those signing the letter were Qari Asim, the imam of the Makkah Masjid Mosque in Leeds who, until last year, was the deputy chair of the government’s Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group. Another was Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, a senior imam from Leicester and former Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain.
This week, Mogra stood alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg of Masorti UK to condemn the “deplorable” incidents of antisemitic hate crimes on British streets.
Other signatories include Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad, Dean of Cambridge Muslim College and Shaykh Arif Abdul Hussain, Founder of the Al-Mahdi Institute. — *Statement* We, the undersigned British Muslims, unequivocally condemn the killing of civilians in Israel and Gaza.
As we watch the heart-wrenching scenes of Al Ahli Arab Hospital burning, we are reminded that the killing and destruction against innocent men, women and children is deplorable and is contrary to the principles of justice and humanity that we hold dear in our faith.
We denounce Hamas’ killing and abduction of innocent people on the 7th of October 2023 as well as the Israeli military’s subsequent use of excessive force. We urge the government of Israel to act with restraint and within the boundaries of international law.
The complete siege on Gaza has resulted in immense suffering and recent actions are intensifying a humanitarian crisis of untold proportions upon Palestinians, who are not responsible for the actions of Hamas.
We also appeal to the international community to pursue diplomatic and political avenues to peace. The current crisis has shown the failure of international initiatives, but it is surely only through diplomacy that we can achieve lasting peace in the Holy Land.
We call for an end to all hostilities and urge our government to urgently step up efforts to ensure international humanitarian law and human rights are upheld, and to negotiate a ceasefire that can stop the further killing of innocent people. We also utterly condemn all acts of Antisemitism or Islamophobia that have taken place on our streets here in Britain.
No-one should feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods and in this country. Mutual respect and dialogue between Muslim and Jewish communities at home and abroad, along with a shared commitment to peace, justice, and the safety of all communities are ever more important.
We also affirm the right of communities across the country to show their solidarity and support for both Palestinians and Israelis caught up in this conflict, in line with British laws surrounding freedom of speech and protest.
We pray for peace and justice and for an end to this cyclical conflict. – Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra Imam Qari Asim Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad Shaykh Dr Musharraf Hussein Shaykh Dr Khalifa Ezzat Shaykha Saleha Islam Shaykh Mufti Faiz Rasool Shaykh Masood Akhtar Hazarvi Shaykh Arif Abdul Hussain Dr Ali-Reza Bhojani Shaykh Umar Hayat Qadri Imam Ijaz Ahmad Shaami Imam Dr Muhammad Munir Imam Zeeshan Baloch Dr Abdullah Sahin
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
