Iraq’s most prominent Shia religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has voiced grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a statement, he said, “In nearly two years of relentless killing and destruction, hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded. Cities and residential areas have been devastated.” Al-Sistani warned that famine in Gaza has reached critical levels, stating, “No age group or social class is being spared from the effects of hunger and deprivation.” He emphasized that the brutality of Israeli occupation forces in displacing Palestinians is not new, but part of a continued pattern of aggression. He also underscored the importance of international involvement in ending the crisis. “It is the moral and religious duty of the global community, particularly Arab and Muslim nations, to ensure that this humanitarian disaster does not continue,” the cleric said.