Senate Calls for Ceasefire and Two-State Solution in Israel-Hamas Conflict

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nigerian Senate has issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in casualties in Palestine.

The Senate passed a resolution urging the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Nations to take immediate action to facilitate a two-state solution between the warring parties, aiming to establish a long-term resolution to the hostilities.

This decision comes in response to a motion presented by Senator Kawu Sumaila, who drew attention to the United Nations’ 1948 proposal to partition Palestine into two separate states, one for the Jewish population and another for the Arab community.

The Senate’s resolution, titled “Urgent Need to Call for Ceasefire in the Ongoing Conflict between Israel and Hamas/Palestine,” underscores the importance of all relevant stakeholders working together to bring the current crisis to an end, preventing further loss of lives and damage to property.

Senator Kawu Sumaila while briefing the press after plenary clarified that the conflict is primarily rooted in land issues and should not be perceived as a religious war. He expressed concerns that if the situation is not adequately addressed, it could escalate into a more extensive global conflict.

He stated that, “The Israel-Palestine conflict is a complex and long-standing issue that has persisted for over a century. It revolves around competing claims to the land of Israel and Palestine and has been marked by violence, displacement, and suffering on both sides.”

The origins of the conflict can be traced back to the early 1900s when Jewish immigrants from Europe began to settle in Palestine, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. This influx of immigrants led to tensions with the Palestinian Arab population, who believed their land was being taken away.

As the conflict intensified, it resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, many of whom remain in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and neighboring Arab countries.

Senator Sumaila cited figures from the United Nations, revealing the devastating impact of the conflict, which began in October 2023. The statistics indicated that Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 18 places of worship, including 11 mosques and 7 churches, along with 22,600 residential units. Moreover, 49 media offices, 70 industrial facilities, 20 ambulances, and 19 medical centers were damaged or destroyed.

Tragically, the conflict has led to over 8,000 deaths, with women, children, and journalists accounting for more than 62% of the fatalities. Additionally, more than 15,273 people have been injured in the ongoing hostilities.