Global Religious Leaders condemn Gaza crisis at Kuala Lumpur Summit
The Second International Summit of Religious Leaders concluded in Kuala Lumpur on August 28, 2025, gathering over 400 faith leaders from across the world to address pressing global conflicts. The event, organized by the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia and the Muslim World League (MWL), carried the theme “The Role of Religious Leaders in Resolving Conflicts.”
Participants issued a strong condemnation of the war and starvation in Gaza, urging governments and faith leaders to act immediately to halt the crisis. They called on Israeli occupation authorities to comply with international law, recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and work toward the establishment of an independent state in line with international resolutions.
The summit further endorsed the final document of the High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, hosted earlier this year by Saudi Arabia and France at the United Nations in New York. Religious leaders pledged to use their spiritual and social influence to mobilize global support for the initiative.
Calls for Peace and Moral Responsibility
In his opening address, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim warned that the Gaza conflict highlighted a profound loss of humanity and justice within the international community. He stressed that all religions promote compassion and coexistence, cautioning against theories of a “Clash of Civilizations.”
Muslim World League Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa described the summit as a response to a critical moment in history. He affirmed that peace is not an option but a necessity for humanity’s survival and the credibility of the United Nations Charter. He also announced two initiatives: strengthening the moral role of religious leaders and ensuring the protection of minorities in countries with religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
Over five sessions, delegates examined the roots of religiously motivated conflicts, the potential of religious diplomacy in resolving disputes, and the tragedy in Gaza, described as a failure of the international system to prevent mass suffering.
The MWL, headquartered in Makkah and founded in 1962, continues to promote the true message of Islam while encouraging coexistence and peace among nations.
