The African Union has reaffirmed its steadfast support for the Palestinian people and their right to freedom and peace in their homeland.
In a meeting with a group of Arab Ambassadors in Addis Ababa, African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki received commendations for the organization’s stance on the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Last week, Moussa Faki and other global leaders participated in the Cairo Peace Summit in Egypt, focusing on de-escalating the Israel-Gaza conflict and pursuing a ceasefire.
The conflict, marked by relentless Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, has resulted in nearly 4,100 Palestinian deaths and over 13,000 injuries in less than two weeks.
Israeli airstrikes and bombardments have also caused severe damage to hundreds of homes, leaving more than one million Palestinians without shelter.
Egypt initiated a massive relief effort to send hundreds of tons of food and medical supplies, donated by Egypt and various Arab governments, to aid the Palestinians in Gaza.
They have been facing dire shortages of food, water, and fuel due to an Israeli blockade that has persisted throughout the conflict.
Concurrently, during the summit’s opening session in Cairo, the Rafah border crossing to the Gaza Strip was opened, allowing humanitarian aid and medical supplies to reach the 2.3 million Palestinians in need.
This aid was generously provided by various regional and international organizations and governments, reflecting global solidarity with the people of Palestine during this critical time.
During the African Union summit in February 2023, Israel sought to be re-admitted to the continental body on an observer status.
The continental body issued one of the toughest commentaries on Israel’s alleged mistreatment of Palestinians.
Israel previously held observer status at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) but was long thwarted in its attempts to get it back after the OAU was disbanded in 2002 and replaced by the African Union (AU).
The continental bloc asked member states to cut scientific or cultural ties with Israel until the Jewish nation stopped “colonial” practices against Palestine.
On October 15, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the African Union Commission (AUC) issued a resounding call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. They urged the international community to rally together to provide urgent humanitarian aid to the 2.2 million Palestinians who desperately need it.
Expressing profound concern over Israel’s order for more than one million Palestinians to leave their homes, a move at odds with international law, both organizations pleaded with the United Nations and the global community to intervene and halt an impending catastrophe.
They emphasized the critical importance of preventing an escalation that could result from an Israeli invasion, a situation that would likely lead to an alarming number of civilian casualties, including women and children, and possibly culminate in a tragedy of unparalleled proportions.
In their joint statement, both organizations maintained that a lasting political solution founded on the vision of a two-state system is the sole path to ensuring enduring peace and security for all nations and peoples in the region.
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