Islamic Countries Must Form a Military Alliance and Intervene Immediately, Say Muslim Scholars

As Israel escalates its attacks on Gaza, the International Union of Muslim Scholars has issued a religious decree (fatwa) declaring armed jihad a religious duty (fard) for all Muslims. The Union's Fatwa Committee emphasized the urgency of establishing an Islamic military alliance to protect the ummah and repel aggression.

The fatwa stresses that every Muslim is religiously obligated to wage armed jihad against the occupying force in Palestine. It urges Arab and Islamic countries to intervene militarily without delay and to impose a full blockade on Israel—by land, sea, and air. The closure of waterways and airspace in Muslim countries to Israeli access was also demanded.

The scholars emphasized the importance of providing military, financial, and legal support to Palestinian resistance. They declared that normalizing relations with Israel is incompatible with Islamic law and that supplying Israel with oil or natural gas is forbidden. The fatwa calls for reviewing peace deals signed by some Arab states with Israel.

In addition to military and political measures, the fatwa calls on Muslims worldwide to engage in "financial jihad" to support Gaza and to advocate for the opening of humanitarian corridors into the besieged enclave.

The statement also includes a call to Muslims living in the United States to pressure President Donald Trump to fulfill promises of ending the violence and achieving peace.