Nigeria welcomes Gaza ceasefire as step towards hope
Palestinian Hamas militants hand over hostages kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, January 19, 2025 in this screen grab from a video. (Reuters)
The Nigerian government has expressed support for the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, viewing it as a potential turning point for the region.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the ceasefire offers a chance to halt the tragic loss of civilian lives and alleviate ongoing human suffering.
Acting spokesperson Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa remarked that the agreement brings a renewed sense of hope and compassion to the affected population.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 46,913 Palestinians and wounded 110,750 since October 7, 2023. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and more than 200 were taken captive.
The statement reads: “The federal government of Nigeria welcomes the agreement of a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
“The agreement offers the prospect of an end to the appalling loss of civilian life and human tragedy witnessed across Gaza over the last 15 months, as well as relief to the families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and some of the Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons. Nigeria also welcomes the supply of much-needed aid and relief materials that the peace deal facilitates.
“The ceasefire agreement presents the people of the region with an opportunity for hope and compassion. The federal government praises the Arabic Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the United States of America for their painstaking work during the negotiations that delivered the ceasefire agreement, and for which they will now act as international guarantors.
“Nigeria urges all stakeholders to build on the new momentum and work towards the successful implementation of the second and third phases of the agreement, and re-affirms support for a two-state solution as the blueprint for a just and lasting peace for Palestine, Israel, and the entire region.”
