Gaza: Nigerian Senate calls for ceasefire, harps on two-state solution to end Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed

The Nigerian Senate has called for an emergency humanitarian ceasefire while urging the UN to revisit the issue of a two-state solution as a proposed framework to end the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As earlier agreed by the United Nations since 1948, the two-state solution, which calls for the establishment of an independent state for Palestinians alongside that of Israel, has been seen by many as a potential key to lock the doors of repeated bloodshed in Palestine and the Gaza Strip.

In a motion moved by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu from Kano South on Tuesday, the lawmakers described the death toll and displacement from the war as spine-chilling.

Senator Kawu pleaded for urgent action while expressing worries that the war could spread to neighbouring countries. Therefore adding to the number of victims of the war.

The Guardian reported that other Senators who contributed to the debate, including Barau Jibrin (Kano), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia) and Sani Musa (Niger), all condemned the killings on both sides and called for immediate end to the hostilities.

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, said: “What we need now is a ceasefire so that people who are being killed every day will no longer be killed. So many have lost their lives; so many children have been left orphaned.

“We should add our voices to those of responsible people all over the world that Palestine and Israel should come together and accept the two-state solution for permanent peace to prevail in that region of the world.”

Abaribe said “having experienced the Nigerian civil war in 1967 as a child, an eye for an eye will lead to everybody not having eyes at all. I call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the conflict.”

The call for truce by the Nigerian lawmaker is coming at a time when the UN also appealed for an urgent ceasefire, describing Gaza as a graveyard for children.

Recall that the Palestinian Health Ministry announced that the death toll from Israel’s ongoing intensified attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 10,328 people.

Ashraf al-Qudra, the spokesman for the Gaza-based Health Ministry said at a press conference that the casualties included 4,237 children and 2,719 women.

He added that no fewer than 25,956 others have also been wounded as a result of Israeli forces’ attacks on Gaza.

Israel launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The enclave has been thrown into a serious humanitarian disaster as supplies are running low for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents due to the Israeli siege.