President Bola Tinubu, on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, called for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, warning that “the conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering.”

Addressing the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, which was convened to address the current situation in the Middle East, President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. 

The one-day summit was a follow-up to the Riyadh summit last year and was attended by heads of state and government of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States.

Reiterating Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Mr Tinubu affirmed the country’s support for a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians could co-exist in security and dignity. He noted that this solution remained viable for lasting peace in the region. 

According to him, no political aim, no military strategy, and no security concern should come at the expense of so many innocent lives. The Nigerian leader called on parties in the conflict in the Middle East to respect the principles of proportionality and the basic rights of civilians, consistent with global legal and diplomatic frameworks.

Explaining Nigeria’s principled and consistent stance on the two-state solution, Mr Tinubu noted that it stood as a beacon of hope, representing the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination and peace. 

He explained that the conflict was so visceral that the ripples of division spread far and quickly.

The Nigerian leader commended King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for convening the summit, describing it as a vital opportunity to renew diplomatic efforts and work toward a sustainable peace. 

He assured that Nigeria, given its own experiences, would continue supporting international efforts to advance peace and stability in the Middle East.  

Mr Tinubu called for the establishment of a secretariat to implement the resolutions of the summit. He urged the leaders to mandate select heads of government to canvass support globally and oversee the implementation of the Summit resolutions.

In his opening remarks, Mr Salman condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, including the targeting of civilians and the continued violation of the Al-Aqsa mosque. 

He also condemned the Israeli ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from delivering relief aid to Palestinians and the displacement of Lebanese people. 

He emphasised the importance of preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

The Crown Prince highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders, mentioning international recognition and the establishment of a Global Coalition with the European Union and Norway. 

He urged more states to join the global coalition. 

(NAN)