The Ambassador of the State of Palestine To Nigeria, Abdallah Shawesh, has accused the United States of America (USA) and other world powers of backing Israel onslaught against Palestinians in the ongoing war in Gaza in a bid to push out the original inhabitants.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the envoy noted that the death toll in the Gaza Strip was 29,878 Martyrs, with 70,215 injuries and around 8,000 people still missing under the rubble.
He said the Ministry of Education declared that in the last 144 days, 5427 students were martyred, 5379 in Gaza and 48 in the OWB, while 9193 were injured, 8888 in Gaza and 305 in the OWB, 97 was arrested in the OWB, including East Jerusalem. According to the ministry, “255 teachers and administrative staff were martyred and 891 were injured in the Gaza strip. 286 government schools and 65 UN schools were subjected to bombardments and sabotage, with 40 of them completely destroyed in Gaza, while 57 schools in the OWB were attacked and sabotaged by the IOF.
“620,000 students in Gaza are still deprived of the right to learn, while the majority of students are suffering from trauma and facing devastating health situations.
Israel’s clear policy is to make Gaza an unlivable place after the war, so that even if the inhabitants are not forced to leave under the fire, they will do so voluntarily due to the lack of hospitals, schools, universities, drinkable water, and other basic necessities for human life.”
Speaking on Palestinian political prisoners Shawesh said: “On the last 144 days, the IOF arrested more than 7270 in the OWB, 228 women, 460 children, 56 of journalists and issued more than 3,800 administrative detention orders. Eleven of the detainees martyred in the Israeli prisons due to the torture and ill treatment. All this is only from the OWB including East Jerusalem.
“There is no specific number or information about the detention cases of Gaza and Israel is still hide all the information about them. The total number of the Palestinian prisoners on the Israel detention camps around 9000 including 3484 administrative detainees.
“More than 200 fanatic Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque guarded by the occupation force where they performed Talmudic ritual. Meanwhile, the occupation authorities continue to impose restrictions on the Muslim worshiper’s entry to Al-Aqsa preventing all the young men and boys from entering while subjecting all others to be extensively checks.
“We still insist that the Israeli fanatic and messianic regime is spearing no efforts igniting a religious war that if erupted will spare no one.”
He decried the fact that, “While we are close to the end of the fifth month of the genocidal Israel war against the Palestinian people, last Friday the Israeli Prime Minister released the “day after” plan for Gaza, aiming to maintain his coalition and save his political skin. The main principles of this plan are as follows:
“Israel will maintain security control west of the Jordan River, including the OWB. He rejected the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state.
Gaza should be ruled by local representatives.
“He called for shutting down the Palestinian aid agency UNRWA.
Israel will maintain security control over the Gaza-Egypt border. The Palestinian presidency spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said and I quote “If the world is genuinely interested in having security and stability in the region, it must end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and recognize an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
The envoy noted that, “The UN spokesman said on Friday February 23, “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for the post-war Gaza is against the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
“He recalled Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored, and reiterates that “any sustainable solution for long-term peace must be in the framework of a two-state solution, and an end to the Occupation and establishment of a fully independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State, of which Gaza is an integral part in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions and existing bilateral agreements.”
On arms exports to Israel, he sited the official opinion of UN experts, who stressed that according to the 1949 Geneva Convention, states must refrain from transferring any weapons or ammunition to Israel that would be used in Gaza, as this is likely to violate international humanitarian law and must cease immediately.
“Such transfers are prohibited even if the exporting State does not intend the arms to be used in violation of the law, or does not know with certainty that they would be used in such a way, as long as there is a clear risk, “…State officials involved in arms exports may be individually criminally liable for aiding and abetting any war crimes, crimes against humanity or acts of genocide.”
He accused Israel of refusing to renew visas and work permits for scores of aid workers who provide vital support for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza; just as he bemoaned humanitarian aids still being blocked by the Israel occupation.
The envoy lamented that, “…famine is next the door in north Gaza, the people there are starving. The alert come again from Mr. Philippe Lazzarini commissioner general of UNRWA and I quote “The last time UNRWA was able to deliver food aid to northern Gaza was on 23 January. Since then, together with other UN agencies, we have warned against looming famine.”
While appealing for regular humanitarian access, Shawesh stated that famine could be averted if more food convoys were allowed into northern Gaza on a regular basis.
“Our calls to send food aid have been denied and have fallen on deaf ears. This is a manmade disaster. The world is committed to never let famine happen again. Famine can still be avoided, through genuine political will to grant access and protection to meaningful assistance. The days to come will once again test our common humanity and values,” he declared.
Gaza war: US backing Israel to push us out – Palestine envoy
