Ahmed bin Hamad al-Khalili and Support for Ansar Allah in Yemen Developments

Ahmed bin Hamad al-Khalili, the Grand Mufti of Oman, has clearly expressed his positions regarding the Ansar Allah movement and the Palestinian issue amid the recent developments in Yemen. In response to the ongoing internal conflicts in Yemen and the bloodshed among Yemenis, he has called for an end to this war and the preservation of unity in his country. Al-Khalili has also criticized scholars who take a stance against Ansar Allah, emphasizing that this movement has supported Palestine and opposed the Zionist regime since its establishment.

Analysis of Al-Khalili's Positions

It seems that Al-Khalili's positions are contradictory: on one hand, support for Ansar Allah, and on the other hand, criticism of the civil war in Yemen. However, to understand these two positions, it must be recognized that Al-Khalili distinguishes between the "internal conflict in Yemen" and the "Palestinian issue." For him, Ansar Allah is not merely a domestic actor but part of a broader Islamic and regional equation.

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This approach is also evident in Al-Khalili's previous positions. In September 2024, he praised Ansar Allah's attacks on the Zionist regime, considering them a source of pride and honor. Additionally, in January 2025, he urged Yemenis to strive for the support of Palestine, describing it as an issue concerning the entire Islamic Ummah.

The Role of Palestine in Al-Khalili's Discourse

The key to understanding Al-Khalili's positions is that the Palestinian issue, in his ideological framework, transcends a mere political and geographical matter. He views Palestine as a sacred issue related to the solidarity of the Islamic Ummah. For this reason, the behavior of an actor like Ansar Allah towards Palestine can influence its assessment in his religious discourse.

This point has gained particular importance after the "Storm of Al-Aqsa" operation and the Gaza war. Ansar Allah, by linking its actions to the Gaza war, seeks to highlight its regional role. Meanwhile, Al-Khalili has also interpreted the actions of Yemenis in this context, describing them in relation to confronting the Zionist regime.

However, Al-Khalili's support for Ansar Allah cannot be analyzed solely based on religious proximity or Shia-Sunni rivalries. As a prominent Ibadi religious figure, he expresses his views based on the type of engagement with the Palestinian issue and the Zionist regime.

The Difference Between Al-Khalili's Position and Oman's Official Policy

It is important to note that Al-Khalili's positions should not be equated with the official policy of the Omani government. The official policy of Muscat emphasizes dialogue, de-escalation, and efforts to reach political solutions. The Omani Foreign Ministry emphasized in December 2025 that dialogue and achieving political agreements should be prioritized.

While Al-Khalili, as a religious figure, can freely express his opinions, the Omani government seeks to maintain relations with various parties and facilitate dialogues. This distinction becomes more significant in the current situation, where conflicts in Yemen have intensified again and Ansar Allah has become one of the main actors.

Ultimately, Ahmed bin Hamad al-Khalili's support for Ansar Allah and his positions regarding Palestine not only reflect his religious views but also demonstrate his efforts to keep the Palestinian issue at the center of Islamic discourse.

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