The Muslim Council of Elders, led by Grand Imām of al-Azhar Dr. Aḥmad al-Ṭayyīb, expressed “deep concerns” over the threats made by the Israeli occupation forces to launch a military operation in the city of Rafaḥ, which is located in the southern Gaza Strip and is currently densely populated with displaced Palestinians. The council was also concerned with the potentially severe humanitarian consequences resulting from such military actions.