…Nigeria should take aid to Palestine — Gummi

By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

No fewer than 7,028 Palestinians, including 2,913 children, have been killed in the ongoing war in Gaza, while about 20,000 civilians sustained various level of injuries and more than 1,500 are missing under the rubbles, according to Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Abu Shawesh.

The Ambassador stated this in Kaduna Friday evening during an interactive press conference he addressed shortly after his visit to Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gummi.

This was as Sheikh Gummi who described the war as unfortunate humanitarian crisis asked the United Nations (UN) to as a matter of urgency stop the invasion of Palestine, and asked the Nigerian government to emulate India, by providing aid to the victims.

The Palestinian Ambassador also said that, death toll in the occupied West Bank has reached 104 and 900 sustained various level of injuries, while 73 of the health workers were killed and 100 injured.

Ambassador Shawesh also said that, no fewer than one million and four hundred thousand people have been left internally displaced in the Gaza Strip, while more than 181,000 housing units were damaged by the aggression, including more than 27,781 housing units completely destroyed.

“The war didn’t start October on 7th as Israel and the occupation club would like everyone to believe, it started a long time ago, and on the day before, Friday October 6th, Israel killed seven innocent Palestinian civilians in West Bank.”

“All problem-solving theory is steering towards tackling the roots of the problem, not to deal with its symptoms. This is exactly what the UN Secretary General did when he said, what happened on October 7th doesn't come from the vacuum.

“Since October 7th, the Israeli occupation forces launched a wide and frenzy war against the Palestinian people in occupied Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in this regards here are some statistical figures that shed a bit of light on the unfolding crime of genocide.

“The total number of martyrs since October 7th till 26th reached 7,028 Palestinian, 2,913 of them are children, 281 undefined, while around 20,000 civilians sustained various level of injuries and more than 15 hundred is missing under the rubbles.

“The death toll in the occupied West Bank reached 104 and 900 sustained various levels of injuries. 73 of the health workers were killed, while 100 injured. 12 hospitals and 32 health centers were out of service due to direct attacks or running out of fuel. 25 ambulances became out of services due to the Israeli attacks.

“Some of the weapons used by the occupying Power melts the skin of the people, and need special treatment that is not found in Gaza. Surgical operations were performed without anesthesia using the light of telephones, and the wounded were treated on the floors of the corridors due to crowded hospitals, the lack of hygiene and clean drinking water, many diseases began to appear, such as smallpox, scabies, and diarrhea.

“The number of the internally displaced persons in the Gaza Strip is about one million and four hundred thousand, displaced with other relative families, United Nation schools, mosques, churches and other public places, the numbers still to increase. More than 181,000 housing units were damaged by the aggression, including more than 27,781 units completely destroyed.

“In the occupied West Bank, the Israeli occupation forces executed 91 Palestinians since October 7th, many of them are children. 6,500 Palestinian detained since the beginning of this year, among them 1,215 since October 7th. Mr. Omar Daraghmeh, 58 years, detained on October 8th and Arafat Yasser Hamdan, 25 years, detained on October 22, had been killed as a result of the torture they had been subjected to in the Israeli jails.

“The far right-wing extremist and racist Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Giver, began a massive campaign to distribute weapons to Jewish settlers in the West Bank, which will lead to more crimes against the Palestinians over there.

“We strongly condemn the brazen and unjustified campaign launched by Israeli leaders and their Western supporters against the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, for telling the truth about what is happening in Gaza. This also falls within the policy of silencing, intimidation and terrorism that Israel pursues against everyone who criticises its criminal behaviour and demands the implementation of the International humanitarian law.

“Yesterday, the Israeli air force deliberately attacked Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh’s home and killed his wife and two of his child. I would like to remind you all that one and half years ago, the Israeli occupation army deliberately assassinated his colleague Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank, this is another attempt from Israeli to stifle the voice of truth.

“The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory acknowledged the responsibility of the Israeli occupation army for the martyrdom of Palestinian journalist Sherine Abu Aqla,” the Ambassador added.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Sheikh Gummi said there no reason why the world power should not come to the aid of the Palestinians to stop the Israelite apartheid nation in the war against humanity, adding that, the conflict is far beyond religion but war against humanity.

Also speaking at the event, Senator Shehu Sani said it is a payback time for Nigeria and the rest of Africa to support Palestine in their trying moment against what he described international conspiracy, as Palestine had at different times supported African countries against colonialism.

Religious leaders from both Muslim and Christian faiths present at the event called for unity among Nigerian Muslims and Christians, saying that, the war between Israel and Palestine is not a religious one.