Mahmoud al-Habbash addresses Gaza security and meets Egypt's Grand Mufti

Mahmoud al-Habbash, advisor to the Palestinian Authority president and Chief Justice, has drawn scrutiny regarding his stance on armed groups in the Gaza Strip. In recent commentary, al-Habbash declined to condemn certain local groups in Gaza, stating that “the door is open” to any Palestinian and that the lack of established law in the territory makes it difficult to judge such phenomena by a single standard. He argued that the presence of various militias is a consequence of the current instability and suggested that order can only be restored through the return of a single authority and unified law.

Separately, al-Habbash met with Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Nadir Mohamed Ayad, in Cairo during an international fatwa conference. The discussions focused on strengthening religious discourse in support of the Palestinian cause and addressing the challenges facing the Palestinian people. Al-Habbash praised Egypt’s religious institutions, including Al-Azhar, for their role in maintaining national identity and defending Palestinian rights, emphasizing the need for continued coordination between Palestinian and Egyptian religious leadership.