African leaders must weigh in on Israel, Palestine
THE time has come for African leaders to get off the fence as far as the Israelipalestinian conflict is concerned and outright condemn the human rights abuses and the killing of innocent people masqueraded as self-defence.
In the past two weeks there has been an escalation of violence and bloodshed in Israel and Gaza in the deadliest fighting between Hamas and the Israel Defence Forces since 2014.
According to the latest reports, Israeli air strikes have killed at least 219 Palestinians, including dozens of children, reported the Gaza health ministry.
Hamas began firing rockets at Israel nine days ago in retaliation for what it said were Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadaan, according to international media reports.
Gaza has launched nearly 3 700 rockets against Israel since May 10, forcing many Israelis into bomb shelters around the clock.
Since the beginning of the latest round of fighting, almost 450 buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or badly damaged, including six hospitals and nine primary health-care centres, the UN Security Council said.
So where does Africa stand on the current conflict and are African leaders brave enough to speak out against the killing of innocent women and children?
A number of African leaders have condemned the bloodshed in the region, with many calling on Hamas and Israel to reach a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict.
In a recent statement, AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned the bombing in the Gaza Strip, as well as an attack against worshippers at the Al-aqsa mosque by Israeli security forces which wounded some 300 people.
South Africa’s ANC has also affirmed its support for the Palestinians. The ANC and state president Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the recent attacks in the region, saying that the expansion of settlements by Israel had already been condemned by the UN.
In 2016, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari declared his total support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-palestinian conflict.
Meanwhile, according to reports coming out of the West African country, the Christian Association of Nigeria has cautioned Buhari against joining the Arab world in its dispute with Israel. The association said that Nigeria must stay clear of the ongoing
| Reuters violence in the Middle East and should not take sides, as advocated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, because Nigeria is a secular state.
Sudan, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria have condemned the disproportionate response by the Israeli forces to
Hamas’s initial attack triggered by unrest at Jerusalem’s Al-aqsa mosque compound, writes Africanews.
There remains little sign of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza after more than a week of cross-border attacks.
| African News Agency (ANA)