By Harriet Tornguvan
For 349 days, Palestinians have endured life in the crosshairs of Israeli rifles, subject to the whims of soldiers seemingly eager to pull the trigger, driven by a deep-seated hostility and messianic ideologies that fuel their actions.
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, continues to condemn the US-Israeli campaign against human rights, moral values, international law, and various international institutions.
He denounced the disregard for bodies such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, alongside the global voices that dare to oppose what he describes as the brutal and tyrannical colonial agenda of Israel.
He said, in recent developments, Israel's foreign minister labeled EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell as an anti-Semite and Israel-hater following Borrell’s participation in discussions concerning the timeline for establishing a Palestinian state.
Ambassador Shawesh remarked that Israeli officials, no longer able to use the accusation of anti-Semitism as a shield, are now lashing out like raging bulls.
The Ambassador reported that as of September 18, the death toll of Palestinians has risen to 41,272, with 95,551 injured.
Additionally, over 10,000 Palestinians remain missing under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The Ambassador highlighted that at least one-quarter of the injured in Gaza are estimated to have life-altering injuries requiring long-term rehabilitation. Severe limb injuries, ranging between 13,455 and 17,550, are driving the need for extensive rehabilitation efforts, while between 3,105 and 4,050 amputations have also been recorded.
Shawesh noted that the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution to impose sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.
He said,the resolution demands that Israel ends its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories within 12 months.
"With 124 out of 193 UN members state voting in favor.
The Ambassador affirmed that this demonstrates the global community’s support for Palestinian self-determination and an end to Israel’s prolonged and deadly occupation.
Ambassador Shawesh expressed deep appreciation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for its unwavering support and vote in favor of this resolution, alongside 123 other nations.
He also warned that UN experts are signaling that international law is at a precarious tipping point, with many countries failing to uphold their obligations, as reaffirmed in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling.
Shawesh, reflecting on historical injustices which marked the 76th anniversary of the assassination of UN peace mediator Count Folke Bernadotte by the Jewish militia group Lehi. Notably, in 1983, Yitzhak Shamir, a former leader of Lehi, became the Prime Minister of Israel.
Further condemning Israeli actions, Shawesh referenced an investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which revealed that Israel is recruiting African asylum seekers for dangerous military operations in Gaza, with promises of granting them permanent legal status.
Shawesh concluded, "When we say Israel is a pariah state, we are absolutely correct."
