Qatar-based scholars incite jihad against Israel amid Gaza crisis
- The International Union of Muslim Scholars issued a fatwa encouraging jihad against Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
- The fatwa called for military intervention by Muslim countries and support for Hamas as a religious duty.
- The situation illustrates a troubling disconnect between the jihadist rhetoric of these scholars and the humanitarian needs of Palestinians.
In 2023, during a critical moment in the conflict between Hamas and Israel, the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), a Qatar-based organization comprised predominantly of extremist Islamic theologians aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood, issued a fatwa calling for jihad against Israel. The fatwa emerged in the wake of increased violence following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in widespread suffering for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Within this context, the IUMS encouraged immediate military action by Muslim nations as a response to Israeli actions in Gaza, labeling it an obligation for every capable Muslim. They argued that this military intervention should not only include support for Hamas but also necessitate the formation of an Islamic military alliance dedicated to the defense of the Muslim community against what they termed the