AA / Mogadiscio / Mohamed Dhaysane/Hassan Isilow/Riyaz ul Khaliq
Several African countries as well as the African Union welcomed, on Thursday, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.
“I would like to commend the crucial role played by Qatar, Egypt and the United States,” said African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
He said the continental organization calls for the immediate and full implementation of the agreement and hopes for justice and peace for the Palestinian people.
Namibia’s President Nangolo Mbumba also welcomed the agreement.
“I welcome the lasting ceasefire announced by the State of Qatar, which represents a decisive and long-awaited turning point for Gazans, victims of a prolonged occupation.”
Since October 7, 2023, Gaza has been the scene of atrocities that have caused the deaths of thousands of civilians and led to massive destruction of civilian infrastructure, all against a backdrop of flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. -he writes about X.
Mbumba stressed that the ceasefire represents an opportunity for the people of Gaza to return to their land and begin the reconstruction process.
“More importantly, I hope that the ceasefire will pave the way for lasting peace in the Middle East,” he added.
Welcoming the agreement, South Africa called for the implementation of a “just and lasting peace that guarantees the protection and promotion of the human rights of Palestinians and Israelis.
“The ceasefire is a crucial step in ending the grave humanitarian crisis facing the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza enclave, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found to be likely genocidal” , said a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He added that the ceasefire “must lay the foundations for a just peace, which should include the establishment of a contiguous, independent and viable Palestinian state.”
-“Palestinian sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved. It is imperative that no territory be annexed in either Gaza or the West Bank after the ceasefire, and that the expansion of illegal settlements be stopped,” he said. -he concluded.
Having brought the Gaza case before the International Court of Justice, South Africa forcefully stressed that “the decisions of the highest court of the United Nations, including interim measures, are binding and must be applied by the occupying power. Respect for international law and humanitarian law is an essential requirement.”
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud also praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States for facilitating the deal.
Mohamoud stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire and called on the international community to accelerate the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
“Through this agreement, I emphasize the need for collective efforts to stabilize the ceasefire and prioritize the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering in Gaza,” he said in a statement. published by the presidency.
The Horn of Africa reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace and reiterated its position on the Palestinian cause, calling for a just and comprehensive solution.
Mahmoud stressed the need to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, based on the two-state solution. On Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman announced the success of mediators in reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, specifying that its implementation will begin this Sunday.
The announcement of the agreement came on the 467th day of the US-backed Israeli extermination in the Gaza enclave, which left more than 156,000 Palestinians dead and injured, the majority of them women. and children, as well as more than 11,000 missing.
The massive destruction and famine that followed left dozens of children and elderly people dead, making the crisis one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
*Translated from English by Sanaa Amir
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