Al-Azhar's highest cleric has condemned what he described as brutal and barbaric Israeli assaults against Gaza.
Israel said its attacks are a response to rockets fired by Palestinians.
"Arabs and Muslims will not remain patient for long over those violations that go against human values and international laws," Tayyeb, who heads the highest Islamic institution in the Muslim world, said.
Tayyeb added that Palestinians have the right to a sovereign state with eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
At least 75 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli operation which was launched earlier this week.
