By Hosea Parah, Abuja
Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, has urged the international community on Thursday to take urgent action to enforce international law and uphold United Nations resolutions regarding the escalating violence in Palestine. In a passionate address, he stressed the necessity of employing all available political, economic, legal, and diplomatic strategies to put an end to what he termed the “American-Israeli carnage and bloodshed.”
“No one is safe until everyone is safe,” he proclaimed, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation as the conflict marks its 334th day. The ambassador’s comments come in light of alarming statistics indicating that as of September 3, the death toll among Palestinians has reached 40,738, with injuries totaling 94,154. Shockingly, reports suggest that around 70% of the casualties are innocent women and children, alongside a considerable number of elderly victims.
Abu Shawesh condemned the deliberate targeting of Palestinian civilians, arguing that the violence not only endangers the Palestinian populace but also threatens global economic and political stability. He expressed frustration at the international community’s inaction, suggesting that the current geopolitical conditions challenge the post-World War II order. “This is a wake-up call for all humanity. The message is clear: countries of the South must accept the forthcoming economic and political frameworks, or they will face similar consequences,” he warned.
The ambassador also highlighted the plight of Palestinian detainees, revealing that over 10,400 individuals from the West Bank have been arrested since October 7, including 725 children. He pointed out the troubling number of deaths in Israeli custody, many linked to medical neglect.
Moreover, Abu Shawesh noted that education has been severely disrupted, with around 600,000 Gazans barred from schooling for the second consecutive year due to the ongoing conflict. Approximately 70% of UNRWA schools have been destroyed or damaged, leaving many children without safe learning environments.
The ambassador further remarked that the violence extends beyond Gaza, reaching the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where daily assaults by settlers, supported by occupation forces, have resulted in the deaths of 681 Palestinians and nearly 6,700 injuries since the escalation of hostilities.
Abu Shawesh criticized major arms exporters, particularly the United States, for their complicity in the ongoing violence, asserting that unlawful arms transfers are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. He emphasized that despite clear evidence of war crimes, arms transfers to Israel persist without restraint.
In conclusion, the ambassador reiterated the imperative for a unified international response to safeguard the rights and lives of Palestinians, stating, “Am I revealing a secret when I say that the US and some other Western nations are waging war against the Palestinian people? Absolutely not.”
Ambassador Abu Shawesh’s urgent plea serves as a poignant reminder of the pressing need for global commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of human rights for all.