Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria Abdallah Abu Shawesh has stated how the ongoing war between his country and Israel started on October 7th, 2023.
During the conference, Sheikh Gumi, describing the conflict as an unfortunate humanitarian crisis, urged the United Nations (UN) to halt the invasion of Palestine promptly. He also called on the Nigerian government to follow India’s example by providing aid to the victims.
Ambassador Shawesh revealed that the death toll in the occupied West Bank had risen to 104, with 900 people sustaining various levels of injuries. Shockingly, 73 health workers lost their lives, and 100 were injured.
Furthermore, more than 1.4 million people were internally displaced in the Gaza Strip, and over 181,000 housing units suffered damage due to the aggression, including 27,781 units being completely destroyed.
Ambassador Shawesh disputed the notion that the conflict began on October 7th, asserting that it had been ongoing for a considerable period. He cited an incident on October 6th when Israel killed seven innocent Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
“The war didn’t start on October 7th as Israel and the occupation club would like everyone to believe. It started a long time ago,” stated Ambassador Shawesh. “All problem-solving theories focus on tackling the roots of the problem, not just its symptoms.”
Providing grim statistics, he revealed that since October 7th, a total of 7,028 Palestinians had lost their lives, with 2,913 of them being children. Additionally, around 20,000 civilians suffered various injuries, and over 1,500 individuals were missing under the rubble.
In the occupied West Bank, 104 people died, and 900 sustained injuries. A total of 12 hospitals and 32 health centres went out of service due to direct attacks or fuel shortages, and 25 ambulances became inoperable due to Israeli attacks. Ambulance services struggled with overcrowded hospitals, poor hygiene, and a lack of clean drinking water, leading to the emergence of diseases such as smallpox, scabies, and diarrhoea.
The Ambassador disclosed that Israeli forces executed 91 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7th, including many children. A total of 6,500 Palestinians were detained this year, with 1,215 arrests since October 7th.
Sheikh Gumi expressed his concern over the conflict’s impact on humanity, emphasizing the need for world powers to intervene. Senator Shehu Sani underscored the importance of African support for Palestine, highlighting the historical backing Palestine had provided to African countries during their struggles against colonialism.
Religious leaders in attendance emphasised the non-religious nature of the conflict and called for unity among Nigerian Muslims and Christians.
In closing, Ambassador Shawesh strongly condemned the campaign against the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, for speaking the truth about the situation in Gaza. He also highlighted the deliberate targeting of journalists by Israeli forces, including the recent attack on Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh, which resulted in the tragic loss of his family.
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