In a significant development, the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) has issued a powerful and urgent fatwa (religious ruling) calling on Muslims worldwide and Muslim-majority nations to take immediate and decisive action against Israel in response to its ongoing aggression and what is described as a genocide in Gaza.

Issued by the IUMS Ijtihad and Fatwa Committee, the fatwa outlines ten core rulings and demands, each highlighting the religious obligations of individuals and states in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Key Points of the Fatwa:

1. Armed jihad against the occupying Zionist entity is a religious obligation (fard) for every capable Muslim across the globe, in defense of the Palestinian people and Islamic lands.

2. Immediate military intervention by Arab and Islamic nations is declared necessary and religiously mandatory to stop the ongoing atrocities and war crimes in Gaza.

3. A complete blockade on Israel by land, sea, and air is required, including the closure of maritime routes, waterways, land crossings, and airspaces of all Arab and Islamic countries.

4. Military, financial, political, and legal support for Palestinian resistance movements is emphasized as a religious duty. This includes the provision of weapons, resources, and political protection on international platforms.

5. The fatwa mandates the urgent formation of a unified Islamic military alliance, tasked with defending Muslim nations and deterring ongoing and future acts of aggression.

6. Normalization of relations with Israel is strictly forbidden (haram). This includes all diplomatic, economic, and cultural engagements that legitimize the occupation.

7. It is explicitly forbidden to supply Israel with oil, gas, or any materials that could strengthen its military capabilities or support its war effort in any form.

8. Peace agreements or treaties between Muslim countries and Israel must be reviewed and reconsidered, especially in light of continued violations and the destruction in Gaza.

9. Supporting Gaza through financial aid and opening of borders and humanitarian corridors is categorized under financial jihad and considered an obligation.

10. Muslim communities, particularly in Western countries, are called upon to apply pressure on their governments—especially in the United States—to end support for Israeli aggression and to uphold justice and peace in the region.

The scholars strongly condemned the inaction and silence of Arab and Islamic governments, characterizing it as a betrayal of Islamic and moral responsibility. They held the United States accountable for enabling the assault on Gaza, due to its continued military and political support for Israel.

According to the fatwa, over 50,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing aggression, and the devastation has reached unprecedented levels. The ruling highlights the urgent need for a united, strategic, and religiously grounded response to halt what is described as a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

The fatwa concludes with a call for:

Unity among Muslim nations and communities

Increased advocacy, protests, and awareness

Sustained prayers (duas) for the people of Gaza

Appreciation for global support efforts aiding the Palestinian cause

Religious leaders worldwide are urged to raise their voices, guide their communities, and call on their governments to take strong and effective measures to confront the aggression and end the suffering of the Palestinian people.