Influential Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi arrived for his first visit to Gaza as a top clericThere is a curious lack of coverage of this visit in Arabic, though.
Wednesday, making one of the most high-profile visits to the Palestinian territory since the Islamic group Hamas seized control in 2007.
Al-Qaradawi is a prominent scholar and Qatar-based cleric who is widely respected in the Muslim world, and his visit emboldens Hamas.
The rival Palestinian Authority government in the West Bank was angered by the visit, claiming it served to strengthen the Palestinians’ bitter political division.
“Any visit that carries a political significance, that acknowledges the legitimacy of Hamas in Gaza, is considered harmful and against the interest of the Palestinian people,” said Mahmoud Al Habash, minister of religious affairs in the West Bank.
The reason is that most journalists are boycotting coverage in protest of Hamas attacks against them during PFLP anti-Israel demonstrations a couple of days ago. 5 Arab journalists were injured when Hamas broke up the rally.
AFP's reporting on Qaradawi in Gaza came from a photographer, not a journalist!
Muslims are describing the visit as "a deadly blow" on Israel's "siege" of Gaza. One would think that they would have realized by now that Islamist Egypt borders Gaza. Geography must not be taught in Islamist schools.
Qaradawi will give a sermon on Friday as well as do photo-op visits to "scenes of devastation" and Hamas leaders.