Saudi and Dubai Grand Muftis Did Not Condemn Hamas Over Hostage Handover

Israeli trolls widely circulated statements attributed to the grand muftis of Saudi Arabia and Dubai, condemning Hamas for handing over the bodies of four Israeli hostages. Misbar's team investigated the statements and found them baseless.

Hamas Hands Over Bodies of Four Israeli Hostages

On Thursday, Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages captured during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.

During a public handover ceremony in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, Hamas displayed four coffins on a stage, set against a background photo featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with fangs and blood on his face. Hamas members then carried the coffins from the stage and transferred them to the Red Cross.

A Hamas spokesman said all four captives were alive until “Zionist occupation aircraft deliberately bombed the locations where they were being held.”

Hamas stated it “preserved the lives of the occupation prisoners,” provided them with what it could, and “treated them humanely, but their [Israel’s] army killed them along with their captors.”

Propagandists Circulate Alleged Statements of Muftis of Saudi Arabia and Dubai Over Hamas

Following the handover of the dead Israeli hostages, several X users systematically spread alleged statements attributed to Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al Sheikh and Dubai's Grand Mufti Ahmed al-Haddad.

The alleged statements condemned Hamas’ ceremony before transferring the Israeli coffins to the Red Cross on Thursday.

Notorious pro-Israel propaganda accounts spread the statements before going viral and amassing millions of views.

According to trolls, Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al Sheikh allegedly said, “What we saw today in Gaza is a disgrace to Islam, an act of blasphemy against Allah, and a sin that does not represent the followers of the Prophet, peace be upon him, or the honorable religion of Islam. The path of Islam includes respect even for non-Muslim dead. Today, the Hamas movement has stepped outside the definition of Islam.”

In addition, Israeli-agenda publishers spread a statement attributed to Dubai’s Grand Mufti, Ahmed al-Haddad, claiming he said, “Hamas has brought shame to Islam on a level never seen before,” after scenes of dead Israeli hostages in coffins circulated.

X users circulated the claims in various designs, making them appear more credible and visually convincing to netizens.

Saudi Arabia Debunks Statement Attributed to Grand Mufti

On February 20, the official account of the news publication "Inside The Haramain" refuted the claim, stating that the statement spread by “Zionist media” and attributed to the Grand Mufti is fake and should be neglected.

“A statement being circulated by the Zionist media in the name of His Excellency the Grand Mufti is false and should be disregarded. Any official statement by the Grand Mufti is carried by the Saudi Press Agency,” the post reads.

In October 2024, Misbar’s team also debunked a statement falsely attributed to Saudi Grand Mufti Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, which claimed he said, “It is not permissible to pray for Yahya Sinwar because he followed the Rafidah doctrine,” after the death of the Hamas leader.

No Record of Dubai Grand Mufti Condemning Hamas

Misbar’s team investigated the circulating statement attributed to Dubai’s Grand Mufti, Ahmed al-Haddad, regarding the Hamas prisoner exchange and found no credible media outlets reporting on it.

In addition, Misbar reviewed the Mufti’s official and active X account and found no posts mentioning Hamas.

According to a Dubai-based journalist, no journalists have reported the alleged statements attributed to Dr. Ahmed al-Haddad, confirming they remain unverified rumors.

In November 2023, Misbar debunked a viral misleading video purporting to show the Grand Mufti of the Emirates calling for the recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha for Israeli soldiers killed in the Israeli war on Gaza and referring to them as “martyrs.”

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