The federal government has called for a de-escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group following the outbreak of hostilities on Saturday.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the government, in a statement through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, expressed deep concern about the situation and called on both sides to exercise restraint and prioritise the safety of civilians.
“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 bear the brunt of every conflict,” the statement read.
The ministry called on both sides to give room for humanitarian considerations and to resolve the conflict through dialogue.
The full statement reads:
7th October, 2023
PRESS STATEMENT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA CALLS FOR DE-ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS
The Federal Government of Nigeria is deeply concerned about the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the early hours of Saturday, 7th October, 2023 and calls for de-escalation and ceasefire.
2. 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 bear the brunt of every conflict.
3. The Federal Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on both sides to exercise restraint, prioritize the safety of civilians and give room for humanitarian considerations.
4. We are therefore calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue.
Amb. Yusuf M. Tuggar (OON)
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Recall that the Palestinian armed group Hamas, early Saturday, launched a surprise attack against Israel, the most serious escalation since the two sides fought an 11-day war in 2021.
Hamas said it had fired 5,000 rockets, while Israel confirmed that the group’s fighters had entered its territory.
The Israeli military responded with air strikes on targets in Gaza and said it had mobilised tens of thousands of reservists.
More than a hundred people have been confirmed dead.