By Our Correspondent
Nigerians have joined other well-meaning people of the world in condemning human rights abuse and humanitarian crises, currently plaguing Palestinians in Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
ThenewsZenith reports that notable personalities, including Clerics and Rights activists among others gathered at the National Stadium, Surulere for this year’s Aqsa Day.
They were unanimous in calling for global actions against the Israeli forces for the continued genocide of the Palestinians.
The crisis, which started as ethnic cleansing against the people of Palestine by the Israelis, took several dimensions before it reached a climax on Oct. 7, 2023.
That was when Hamas, in retaliation, launched an attack in Southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.
Since the attack, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war on Gaza, killing about 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
The Israeli forces have buried thousands under rubble. Many more Palestinians are under the threat of illness. The brutal forces did not spare journalists and humanitarian workers.
Many times Israeli forces blocked relief items and services from reaching the needy Palestinian refugees.
Despite wide criticisms and condemnations, including several interventions by the United Nations and other international bodies to stop the war, the Netanyahu-led government has vowed to bring Hama to its knees amidst the killings.
TheNewsZenith reports that the Muslim Awareness International (MAI) organised the Aqsa Day to identify with the people of Palestine.
The event featured a Special Lecture and Discourse on the plights of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
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The theme of the 2024 Discussion centres on “Injustice to Palestinians: A Threat to Democracy and Freedom in the World”.
In a message sent to the the Aqsa Day, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani Kayode described the Israeli attacks on Palestine as “the genocide of our time”.
TheNewsZenith reports that his message was beamed to the large crowd of Nigerians at the event through a large Television screen.
Kayode said there was no justification “for what Netanyahu is doing in Gaza”.
He traced the history behind Zionist propagation, which led to the Balfour Declaration in 1917.
According to him, the Israeli Jews were never Semites. Neither were they the original owners of the land but the Palestinians.
“The Palestinians’ land was forcefully taken away from them because of the domineering nature of Zionism.
“After 2nd War World, the Israelis were driven away from Europe. However, instead of going back, they sought refuge with the Palestinians.
“By 1948, the Jews were declared a sovereignty: state Israel, on the land that did not belong to them.
“Thereafter, Israelis turned the Palestinians into slaves in their land. They faced the worst form of deprivation from successive Israeli governments until the event that happened on Oct. 7, 2023,” the former minister said.
Justifying this action, Fani Kayode said the Hamas couldn’t have acted less. He pointed out that Nigeria or any country could have done the same.
This is especially true considering the hypocrisy and years of neglect and abandonment without any end in sight.
“Any country could have suffered a similar fate. Hence, irrespective of our background, colour, race and religion, Nigeria should stand against injustice,” TheNewsZenith quoted him as saying.
Support for Palestine is a support for humanity in general, the former minister added.
Also speaking against the conspiracy of silence by world leaders, human rights activist, Prof. Ishaq Lakin Akintola, berated the stance of some super-power nations, particularly the American Government on the plight of the Palestinians.
Akintola, who is the Director of Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) remarked that the US role since the war began, was devoid of equity, justice and fairness.
These are some of the tenets of democracy, which America claimed to be championing.
“We are not against the people of the US but against the role of the American Government in the whole conflict.”
He urged the Nigerian Government and men of conscience to support Palestine. Nigeria, he said, should disassociate itself from any action that could further escalate the conflict in the region.
Facts are sacred, Shaykh Dhikrullahi Shafi’i, the Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), advised the audience at the event to “always seek the truth and educate people about it”.
Shafi’i said truth “is one of the ways to guarantee the sanctity and freedom of the Palestinians.”
The Grand Mufti called for more unity among Muslims and all truth seekers. He sought assistance for victims of the Israeli occupation in Palestine by praying for them.
Shafi’i further reiterated the call on Muslim communities to boycott all Israeli products and its other means of economic power.
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