Amid the ongoing conflict, Palestine has formally petitioned the United Nations, demanding that Israel withdraw from its territory. The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Shawesh, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja.
The conflict escalated when, on October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 1,500 people confirmed dead, and concerns that the death toll may continue to rise.
In response to the conflict, Israel imposed a siege on the Gaza Strip, leading to disruptions in access to basic necessities such as electricity, water, food, and fuel.
During the press conference, Ambassador Shawesh called on the United Nations to enforce international law on Israel and compel the country to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. He emphasized that applying international law could bring an end to the conflict, and without it, Palestinians would continue to exercise what he described as their legitimate right to liberate and defend themselves.
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Ambassador Shawesh also urged the international community to treat Israel like any other nation and not exempt it from accountability under the law. He emphasized the need for fair treatment of all parties involved.
Regarding the Hamas group, Ambassador Shawesh clarified that the Palestinian government does not consider it a terrorist organization. Instead, he stated that Hamas is fighting for the cause of the Palestinian people to liberate their land from Israeli occupation. The characterization of Hamas is a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with differing views among various international actors.
