By Ayo Yusuf
The Nigerian government has joined other world leaders to condemn the raging war between Israel and Palestine hours after Hamas launched a multi-pronged assault at dawn firing thousands of rockets and deploying ground, air and sea forces, to attack Israeli towns and kibbutz communities.
Analysts say this is the worst fighting in decades and has resulted in the deaths of more than 200 Israelis and wounded over 1,000 others, leaving bodies of civilians strewn on roads, while on the Gaza side at least 313 have died and over 1,700 were reported wounded.
The African Union and most of the world have condemned the latest attacks in a war that has lasted over half a century.
In a statement on Saturday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said the escalation of the war by both countries would result in an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population, and advised that both parties should exercise restraint and prioritise the safety of civilians.
He urged both parties to create room for humanitarian considerations, calling for dialogue.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on both sides to exercise restraint, prioritise the safety of civilians and give room for humanitarian considerations. We are therefore calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue,” the statement read.
It further stated: “The Federal Government of Nigeria is deeply concerned about the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Saturday and calls for de-escalation and ceasefire.
“The cycle of violence and retaliation that the current escalation has assumed only serves to perpetuate an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population that bears the brunt of every conflict.”
