The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Shawesh, has reiterated the importance of a two-state solution in resolving the long-standing conflict between Palestine and Israel. In a press conference held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Ambassador Shawesh highlighted that this solution is recommended by the United Nations.
Ambassador Shawesh began by tracing the origins of the ongoing crisis back to 1917, when the United Kingdom, the mandatory power at the time, issued the Belfour declaration, gifting the historical homeland to the European Jewish people. This act resulted in the displacement and ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinian people, leading to the infamous Al Nakba in 1948.
“The Palestinians have been yearning for the two-state solution, as proposed by the UN resolution,” Ambassador Shawesh explained. “This can only be achieved by allowing the Israelis to vacate the ancestral homes of the Palestinians. While some are attempting to divert the discussion towards humanitarian aid and logistical details, we must not lose sight of the root cause of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is the Israeli aggression. What we urgently need is an unconditional ceasefire.”
Ambassador Shawesh condemned the Israeli military for waging a relentless assault on the Palestinians, emphasizing the dire humanitarian situation with numerous casualties on the Palestinian side. He revealed that the number of Palestinian martyrs in Gaza has exceeded 8700, with 73% of them being children, women, and the elderly. Additionally, over 20,000 Palestinians have been injured in Gaza and 2000 in the occupied West Bank. The attacks on the health sector have resulted in the deaths of more than 116 health rescue staff members, while 25 ambulances are completely out of service.
Highlighting the extent of the Israeli occupation and injustices, Ambassador Shawesh stated, “Palestine cannot isolate October 7th from its historical context. Decades of occupation, torture, and injustice have led to the current frenzy of war. The cost for the Palestinian people has been immeasurable.”
The Palestinian Ambassador further revealed that over 1600 Palestinians have been thrown into Israeli jails in the past month alone. He stressed that Palestine was prepared to release all Israeli hostages if the incarcerated Palestinians were freed as well. Ambassador Shawesh lamented the lack of freedom for Palestinians, including the inability to freely express themselves on social media.
Palestinians maintain that they have the full right to self-determination and freedom, which Israel and its western supporters have long denied them. The conflict escalated on October 7th when Hamas gunmen stormed across the border, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of at least 240 others, including children.
In conclusion, Ambassador Shawesh firmly reiterated the need for a two-state solution, emphasizing the historical and humanitarian significance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
