By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities in Nigeria have called for immediate ceasefire following fresh crisis that erupted in Isreal after the Palestinian armed group, Hamas, launched a multi-pronged assault in Israeli territory, killing hundreds of people.
The attack on early Saturday also left over a thousand injured, even as the Gaza side has recorded at least 313 deaths, with thousands injured in a counter offensive by Israeli armed forces.
In a statement on Saturday, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the escalation between both countries would result in an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population.
He equally urged that both parties should exercise restraint and prioritise the safety of civilians, even as US and EU have pledged support to Israel.
Tuggar appealed to 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.
“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”.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Palestinians living in Gaza to vacate, threatening to turn into rubble all places from where Hamas operate.
