A group, Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, CCSO, has lamented the spate of bombing by the Israel security forces in Gaza.
The Group said it is perturbed by the prevailing situation in the occupied Gaza Strip, it however expressed unflinching solidarity with the Palestinian people.
It condemn in strong terms, the attacks by the Israeli forces against defenceless Palestinians, among them women and children with number of casualties rising from the siege that started 11 days ago after terrorist Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel.
Hamas is currently holding over 150 hostages including Israelis and other foreigners.
CCSO said the death of over 500 Palestinians in a single Israeli strike at the Al-Ahli Arab hospital south of Gaza on Tuesday, 17th October, 2023 is a case of crimes against humanity that the International Criminal Court, ICC, must investigate and hold Israel accountable.
The Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government has blamed the Islamic Jihad for the blast, describing it as a defective strike from the Palestine-based jihadi group. Investigation is currently ongoing by independent investigators to ascertain who is actually responsible.
In a statement signed by Alex Omotehinse, the group condemned Israel for carpet-bombing the same place it chose as a safe haven for people fleeing bombardment in Gaza, describing it as a coordinated crime against humanity.
“The attempt by the duo of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and US President, Joe Biden to exonerate Israel of the bombing in hospital is shameful and condemnable. The argument that the bombing at the hospital was due to self-explosion is deceptive and a conspiracy in genocidal mission.President Biden cannot walk back his talk: His promise to provide everything Netanyahu needed to prosecute this genocide is on RECORD; The current US president shall answer to crime against humanity at the appropriate time. President Biden’s efusal to call for a ceasefire and his open green-lighting of Israel’s premeditated genocidal mission are now well-documented.
“The massacre at the Al-Ahli Arab hospital targeted not just civilians taking shelter in the hospital but also medical staff who were treating patients, the sick and the injured who had gathered there in the hope of recovery or rescue; The situation in Gaza runs contrary to the spirit that of Geneva Convention which prohibits ‘reprisal attacks against the wounded, the sick and the shipwrecked, medical personnel and services, prisoners of war …among others’.
“Israeli’ contempt for rule of engagement in violation of criminal enterprise which has no regard for any law, local or international has once again been re-enacted.
We remember that at the just concluded United Nations Assembly of heads of States, Netanyahu brought a pen and a map and struck out historic Palestine as non-existent.
“Barely a month after, he is committing the genocide on ground which he first committed on paper: he must stand trial
The attack by Hamas freedom fighters on the 7th of October, 2023 was in response to over 70 years of Palestinians being treated like animals by both the Israeli government and the settlers it imported from Europe. We affirm that ‘every single person living under occupation would either die a slow, silent and painful death at the hands of the occupiers or rebel for freedom: Hamas’ action was rebellion against the slow but assured colonial genocide of its people.
“As Africans who had undergone the brutality of foreign colonial occupation in our history, we respond to this HISTORIC CALL today by standing with the people of Palestine and stressing that PALESTINE MUST BE FREE!!!!”
“We affirm that as an occupied people Palestinians have the RIGHT TO RESISTANCE which they continue to muster despite their backs being against the wall. Palestinians are not fighting just Israel, they have been fighting a rogue superpower which is America. We salute their courage and their refusal to be bullied into silence
“We affirm the RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION which is the simple, irreducible minimum they are entitled to as a people.
“The world MUST rise to help Palestinians reclaim their rights, their dignity, their humanity; they must be free to determine their own destiny; create their own political institutions; establish a viable and sovereign state; and live in peace”.
The Group stated that it salutes the Jewish society in the United States who thronged the Whitehouse on Wednesday, 18th October, 2023 to protest the bombings by Israel in Gaza chanting ‘STOP FUNDING GENOCIDE IN MY NAME’
OUR PRAYERS’.
It added that the United Nations must prevail on Israel to agree to a ceasefire, and that It should as a matter of urgency reclaim the peace process from the united States and European Union, calling on Turkiye, China and the Arab nations to invest in the peace process.
The Group also demanded the affirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to the Two-States solution not just by rhetoric but by taking practical steps to show that the country is serious about Palestinians statehood.
It also demands the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador for justifying the war which has killed over 5000 people on both sides.
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