Newsletters
Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, urged Muslims during his Friday sermon to view Palestinian children as role models, praising what he described as their courage and steadfastness in the face of the “unjust Zionist enemy.”
Bin Humaid, imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque and a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, is not managed by the sheikh himself.
Sheikh bin Humaid said that the “children of Palestine are adult men in their actions,” noting that they have confronted the “unjust and brutal Zionist enemy” with their bodies and bare chests, standing firm against its superior and deadly array of weapons, and displaying courage that rejects surrender and refuses humiliation or subjugation.
The remarks come amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which has sparked widespread anger across the Arab and Muslim worlds and renewed debate over religious, political and humanitarian responsibilities toward Palestinians.
The sermon focused on the concept of manhood and the upbringing of younger generations “on noble values, instilling high aspirations in them so they may inherit their forefathers’ legacy, preserve their faith, and uphold the authenticity of their nation while taking pride in its identity and values.”
Sheikh bin Humaid stressed that the “blood of the martyrs, the stances of men, and the steadfastness of heroes will, by God’s will, yield proud souls and hearts that refuse humiliation.”
He affirmed that Palestine and Jerusalem will remain firmly and exaltedly embedded in the hearts of Arabs and Muslims.
This comes at a time when children in Gaza continue to suffer amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
Gaza’s Interior Ministry said more than 27,000 tents sheltering displaced families have been destroyed, while freezing temperatures and severe flooding have led to mounting deaths among children.
Although a ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, living conditions in the enclave have not improved, as Israel has continued to impose strict restrictions on the entry of aid trucks, in violation of the humanitarian protocol of the agreement.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, and injured over 171,000 others, according to local health authorities, despite the truce.
2 min read
