Omani Grand Mufti Under Scrutiny for Virulent Anti-Israel Incitement
Arab activists point to Oman's Grand Mufti, Ahmed al-Khalili, as a key driver of anti-Israel incitement, following reports linking an Omani pilot to a hijacked flight attempt.
Amid reports linking an Omani pilot to a failed attempt to hijack a Flydubai flight, Arab activists are pointing to a prominent figure in the Omani sultanate who has engaged in persistent, virulent incitement against Israel.
The Grand Mufti's Incitement
The individual in question is Oman's Grand Mufti, Ahmed al-Khalili, who frequently voices support for Palestinian and pro-Iranian terrorist organizations in the Middle East. He is far from a marginal figure, serving as a pillar of the regime. The 84-year-old al-Khalili has held the post of Grand Mufti since 1975 and holds ministerial status. He has also served as chairman of the board of directors of the Sultan Qaboos Center for Islamic Culture and in other key roles within the sultanate.
Opposition to Disarming Hamas
The Mufti fiercely opposes the disarmament of Hamas in Gaza, setting him apart from other voices in the Arab world. "It is astonishing that the people of Gaza are under siege by the enemy from all sides, and the enemy spares no means in its aggression against them, yet despite all this, we hear voices of brethren demanding that they surrender their weapons," he stated. In a gesture of appreciation for his support, Hamas terrorists have raised posters of the Mufti in Gaza.
"The nation suffers from great troubles today. Alongside what it suffers in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, it now suffers in Yemen. I am sorry for statements by some Muslim scholars speaking against a group that confronted the Zionist entity," al-Khalili declared regarding the Houthis in Yemen.
Oman maintains no official diplomatic relations with Israel, despite past speculation regarding normalization. In 2018, then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the late Sultan Qaboos. However, much like other Gulf states, the ongoing war in Gaza has severely chilled relations between Muscat and Jerusalem.
