President Bola Tinubu’s administration has condemned Israel’s airstrike on a civilian camp in Rafah, Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of around 45 people, predominantly women and children.
This position was disclosed on Thursday, in a statement issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
The assault on Rafah, which took place on Sunday, May 26, was one of several recent incidents that have aggravated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Tuggar also condemned the violations of ceasefire agreements and humanitarian corridors, as well as the deliberate sabotage of aid and relief efforts.
“The government and people of Nigeria condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the onslaught on defenseless civilians currently being witnessed in Gaza in the course of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“As it stands, the Rafah attacks, just like the bombing of the Al Shifa Hospital in early April, the serial bombing of schools, particularly in Khan Younis, the March 2024 bombing of the Firas Market and the Nuseirat Refugee Camp Market; the drone attacks on the World Central Kitchen aid staff in April, indicates a most regrettable affront on humanity, which must be denounced in its entirety,” Tuggar stated.
Minister Tuggar urged all stakeholders to work towards a swift resolution of the conflict.
“Nigeria is, therefore, as grossly concerned about the safety and welfare of the civilian population of Gaza as it is about the protection of the dignity and sacredness of human life in the enclave. It deplores the already mature humanitarian catastrophe that has developed out of this regrettable situation.
“Nigeria is greatly dismayed at the flagrant disregard of ceasefire agreements, the violation of humanitarian corridors, and the deliberate sabotaging of aid and relief efforts.
“Nigeria, therefore, strongly maintains the stance that the fundamental human rights, including and especially that to life, of the vulnerable civilian population of Gaza must be preserved at all cost.
“We call on all stakeholders—including the warring parties (Israel and Palestine), the United Nations, especially its Security Council, the European Union, human rights groups, civil society organisations, world leaders and the international community—to intensify efforts towards a speedy resolution of the conflict, and the immediate cessation of the attendant carnage on the defenseless people, not just of Gaza, but on both sides of the divide. No lesser alternative will be acceptable.
“While we consider an intervention on behalf of the people of Gaza as a far-reaching contribution to preservation humanity and its values, we also reaffirm our position regarding the two-state solution as vital to the amelioration of the prevailing situation”.
