President Bola Tinubu has called for an end to the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, stressing that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has caused immeasurable suffering for far too long.
Mr Tinubu while addressing the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on Monday reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong support for a two-state solution as the most viable pathway to lasting peace in the region.
The one-day summit, a follow-up to last year’s Riyadh summit, was attended by leaders of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States.
President Tinubu voiced Nigeria’s concern about the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and reiterated the country’s call for an immediate ceasefire.
“The conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering on countless lives.
“As representatives of nations that value justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, we have a moral obligation to collectively bring about an immediate end to this conflict.”
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Highlighting the importance of proportionality in self-defence, he urged all parties involved to respect civilian rights and adhere to global legal and diplomatic frameworks.
“An entire civilian population, their dreams and futures, cannot be dismissed as collateral,” he said.
President Tinubu emphasised that the two-state solution, which envisions peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians in security and dignity, is a beacon of hope for both peoples.
He noted that achieving this vision would require dialogue, compromise, and mutual recognition, pointing out that the conflict’s roots go beyond the violence seen on 7 October 2023.
“The international community has the opportunity to bring to bear new thinking on this most relentless challenge. We need to find new pathways to peace, without delay,” Tinubu said.
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Commending the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for convening the summit, Tinubu assured that Nigeria would continue to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, drawing from the country’s own experience in conflict resolution.
President Tinubu also called for the establishment of a secretariat to oversee the implementation of the summit’s resolutions, urging leaders to select a group of heads of government to spearhead global advocacy and track progress towards permanent peace in the region.
In his opening remarks, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, including attacks on civilians and the violation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He also condemned the Israeli ban on humanitarian aid and stressed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders.
The summit underscored the need for a unified international response to the ongoing crisis, with both President Tinubu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The Saudi-hosted summit continues to serve as a crucial platform for diplomatic engagement on the issue of Palestinian statehood and the broader Middle East conflict.
