The African Union (AU) has weighed in on the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, saying it has ‘grave consequences’ for the lives of civilians and regional peace, particularly in North Africa.
Development Diaries reports that over 123,000 people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip since the renewed conflict, according to United Nations (UN) records.
In an unprecedented strike on Israel on Saturday, Hamas detonated portions of the heavily defended border barrier and sent fighters into Israeli settlements near the Gaza Strip.
In response, operation swords of iron was launched by the Israeli military against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Mahamat, in a statement, expressed ‘utmost concern’ over the latest outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
‘Denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly that of an independent and sovereign state, is the main cause of the permanent Israeli-Palestinian tension’, he said.
Also, the South African government has asked that hostilities between Israel and Palestine cease immediately.
Several prior UN resolutions have called for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine, and South Africa stated that the area is in urgent need of a genuine peace process that answers such requests.
Israel-Hamas conflict explained
The Israel-Hamas conflict is a long-standing and complex dispute between two groups in the Middle East: Israel, a country in the region, and Hamas, a Palestinian political and militant organisation.
In simple terms, the Israel-Hamas conflict is a struggle over land and political control between Israel, a Jewish-majority country, and Hamas, a Palestinian organisation.
It has resulted in violence and suffering for many people in the region, and efforts to find a peaceful solution have been challenging.
World leaders must assume their responsibilities to impose peace and guarantee the rights of the people of both parties.
Photo source: Global Panorama
