Nigeria demands ceasefire in Israel-Palestine war

President Bola Tinubu, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, called for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Tinubu warned that “empty condemnations” are not enough to end the conflict in Palestine which, he said, “has persisted for far too long.”

The Nigerian leader argued this at the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, convened to address the current situation in the Middle East.

He expressed deep concern for the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

The one-day summit was a follow-up to the Riyadh summit from 2023, and was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, revealed Tinubu’s argument in a statement he signed on Monday, titled “At Saudi summit, President Tinubu demands end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, wants vision of two-state solution realised.”

The ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza began in October 2023 after the Hamas’ attack which left scores of Israelis dead.

Since the escalation began, over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, with approximately 70 per cent of the casualties being women and children, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.

The conflict has resulted in widespread destruction of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, exacerbating the dire living conditions for Gaza’s residents.

International organisations have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid to address the escalating crisis.

In response to the prolonged conflict, there has been a renewed international push for a two-state solution as a pathway to lasting peace.

European, Arab and Muslim nations have launched initiatives to garner support for Palestinian statehood, aiming to build institutions and promote the two-state framework.

Reiterating Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Tinubu affirmed the country’s support for a two-state solution, where both Israelis and Palestinians could co-exist in security and dignity.

He noted that the solution remained a viable part of lasting peace in the region.

“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.

“It is not enough to issue empty condemnations. The world must work towards an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has persisted for far too long.

“No political aim, no military strategy, and no security concern should come at the expense of so many innocent lives,” Tinubu stated.

The President called on parties in the conflict in the Middle East to respect the principles of proportionality and the basic rights of civilians, consistent with global legal and diplomatic frameworks.

He argued, “In a rules-based international order, states have the right of self-defence.

“But self-defence must take proportionality into account, in line with global legal, diplomatic – and moral – frameworks.

“An entire civilian population, their dreams and futures, cannot be dismissed as collateral.”

Explaining Nigeria’s principled and consistent stance on the two-state solution, Tinubu noted that it stood as a beacon of hope, representing the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination and peace.

“It is not just a diplomatic article of faith; it is a vision grounded in the principles of equality and mutual recognition.

“Achieving this vision requires a commitment to dialogue and respect for history. We all know this conflict did not begin on October 7, 2023.

“It can only be resolved through principled co

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