Nigeria has thrown her weight behind the two-state solution to the seeming intractable crisis between Israel and Palestine.
Hamas, which is mostly seen as a terrorist group by Israel and Western nations but however seen as a liberation force by the Palestine and mostly Islamic nations, gave life to the age long crisis when it attacked Israeli settlements on October 7 prompting Israeli force attack on Gaza.
Nigeria which has since been calling for deescalation of the battle, on Tuesday through its Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said the advocated two-state solution should be enforced to allow for both Israeli and Palestinian states.
The Minister made the advocacy while speaking with the press after a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Abu Shawesh, on Tuesday evening.
He said Nigeria believes both parties have a right to an independent state.
The Minister lamented that innocent civilians were being killed in the conflict, calling on both parties to stop hostilities.
Tuggar said: “I reiterated to him, Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Nigeria’s position which is for a two-state solution and we are totally against wanton and indiscriminate violence against civilians.
“It doesn’t matter who is carrying the violence out, Nigeria stands against that and with regards to the current situation in Gaza, Nigeria voted in favour of a cessation of hostilities in Gaza. That is our position and it will remain so.”
The United Nations had said Tuesday that the Gaza Strip has become a graveyard for thousands of children, fearing more may die of dehydration.
The UN children’s agency UNICEF said there was a risk that the number of child deaths directly from bombardment could be eclipsed.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria told journalists that he was at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to solicit the support of Nigeria following her prominent position in Africa in particular and the world at large.
Shawesh alleged that Israel was waging war against the Palestinians on three fronts – militarily, politically and in the media, calling on Nigeria to speak out for the Palestinian people.
“We all believe that Nigeria with its heavy political weight all around the world and particularly in Africa can do something very significant, can raise its voice. Many civilian children will be saved. This is very significant to us.
“Also when it comes to humanitarian issues, we are still looking at Nigeria to do something significant, especially after the mass destruction of Gaza. We will need a lot of rescue equipment and we believe that Nigeria can do a lot,” he said.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
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