Bodybuilding world champion calls on Arabs, Muslims to help Palestinians suffering under Israeli bombardment, occupation

The holder of the post prestigious title in international bodybuilding has made an emotional plea for Arabs and Muslims to do more to help Palestinians suffering under Israeli bombardment and occupation.

Mahmoud 'Big Ramy' Elssbiay, who became the second person from the Middle East to win Mr Olympia since the tournament’s inception in 1965, put out the message in an Instagram post to his 3.2 million followers.

The post, which features pictures of Gazan children crying, has amassed nearly a quarter of a million likes.

The 130kg Egyptian behemoth, who has made previous posts expressing solidarity with Palestinians, deplored the "terror" experienced by "our young children, mothers and brothers".

He described it as "shocking and an outrage for us as Arabs and Muslims".

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mr Olympia Big Ramy (@big_ramy)

Elssbiay stressed that "responsibility" to help Palestinians lies on the shoulders of Arabs and Muslims without elaborating.

"Our Lord will no doubt help them but the remainder and the responsibility falls on us since we live and see and hear and yet our hearts only shake for a few minutes if that."

He said that issue was one "for the Muslim world and not just Palestine", ending his post with a prayer for a God-given "victory".

Read more: Egypt star Mo Salah condemns 'violence' after deadly Israeli strikes on Gaza

Israel’s air campaign against the besieged Gaza Strip continued in the early hours of Wednesday, destroying entire residential buildings, and killing four Palestinians, including a journalist. Since May 10, it has claimed the lives of at least 219 Gazans, including 63 children.