Al-Azhar Under Fire: Israel Escalates Media Attacks on Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb

Watan-Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and its Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, are facing an unprecedented Israeli media attack due to his clear and supportive stance on the Palestinian cause, especially his continuous support for Gaza in the face of Zionist aggression.

The campaign is being led by Israeli occupation media and some pro-Israeli Western platforms, amid calls to pressure the Egyptian authorities to “silence” Al-Azhar’s voice.

Channel 14, known for its far-right leanings, described Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb as “the living spirit of hostility toward Israel” in the Islamic world, accusing Al-Azhar of inciting the Arab and Islamic streets against Tel Aviv and fueling anger in the region. Israeli entities have also accused Al-Tayeb of “supporting terrorism and anti-Semitism” due to his powerful sermons exposing the occupation’s crimes in Gaza.

Al-Azhar Faces Escalating Pressure from Israel and the West

The Israeli attack has not been limited to Hebrew media, but has extended to efforts to incite the United States against Al-Azhar, claiming that it “incites against the West and supports extremist groups”—a narrative that the occupation has long promoted against anyone who stands with the Palestinian cause.

Analyses indicate that the occupation now feels threatened by Ahmed Al-Tayeb’s speeches, which have “shattered the image of a victimized Israel” and exposed the brutality of the occupation to the world. Al-Azhar’s positions—including strongly worded statements condemning Zionist war crimes in Gaza—have begun to influence Arab and Islamic public opinion, and even some Western voices.

This is not the first such attack. Previously, Israel’s ambassador to Cairo, Amira Oron, criticized the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for praising resistance operations and labeled him “anti-Semitic.” Recently, there have been increasing calls from Zionist officials to change Egyptian laws so that the regime can remove the Grand Imam and replace him.

For its part, Al-Azhar continues to adhere to its firm rhetoric: “The Zionist enemy has turned into a rabid wolf, maddened by the killing of children and women,” and “the occupation forces have been stripped of all sense of humanity.” Despite all the pressure, Al-Azhar continues to play its historic role in defending the causes of the Muslim nation—foremost among them, Palestine.