A group of prominent Islamic scholars in Nigeria has joined the growing list of voices condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. They called th...
A group of prominent Islamic scholars in Nigeria has joined the growing list of voices condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. They called the situation a ‘genocide‘ and urged the international community to take action.
This statement comes a few days after another shocking incident in which five Al-Jazeera journalists were killed in Gaza, as the killing sparked widespread outrage and drew attention to the escalating violence in the region.
The scholars, led by the Chairman of the Ulama of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, CIO, Sheikh Abdur Rahman Ahmad at a mega press conference held at the TMC Dawah Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, criticised Israel for its actions in Gaza, accusing it of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity despite the United Nations speaking against it.
The conference was well attended by Nigerian scholars from all walks of life, including representatives from the Gaza community in Nigeria.
Sheikh Ahmad delivered a statement highlighting the historical context of the crisis and drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Starvation as a weapon of war
He cited statistics showing that over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, with many more trapped under rubble, and 1.9 million people displaced.
“The current aggression, therefore, is not an isolated act of self-defence but the latest and most devastating chapter in a long history of dispossession and a practice of genocide,” Sheikh Ahmad stated.
He also condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war, noting that famine has been declared in parts of Gaza, and countless children are dying of malnutrition and preventable diseases.
Five killed journalists
Five Al Jazeera journalists, including prominent reporter Anas al-Sharif, were reported to have been killed in an Israeli strike near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital on Sunday.
Anas al-Sharif, one of the journalists killed
Al-Sharif and another correspondent, Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa were in a tent for journalists at the hospital’s main gate when it was struck, Al Jazeera reported.
The incident was regarded as a “targeted assassination” on which is “yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom,”, it said in a statement.
Terrorist state
To stop the killings of innocent lives, Sheikh Ahmad called on Muslim nations to abandon political differences and diplomatic ties with Israel, and urged global powers to impose sanctions on Israel, halt arms transfers, and suspend diplomatic and trade relations until the occupation ends. He also urged the international community to officially declare the Israeli regime a terrorist state.
A representative of the Gaza community in Nigeria, Abu Ibrahim Bn Ibrahim, commended the Nigerian scholars for their solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Stronger stance
He urged the Nigerian government to take a stronger stance, including expelling any Israeli presence in the country.
The scholars’ condemnation highlights the growing international concern over Israel’s actions in Gaza. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the call for action and accountability grows louder. The Nigerian scholars’ statement is a significant addition to the global voices demanding justice and humanity for the Palestinian people.
Credit: VON
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