UN urged to constitute investigation committee on Gaza crisis

The Palestinian Ambassador in Nigeria, Abu Shawesh, has called on the UN to urgently constitute an international investigation committee into the ongoing crisis in Gaza. 

The envoy made the call on Thursday in Abuja in a press release to commemorate a year anniversary of the latest Israel-Hamas war. 

Since October 7th 2023, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed including 16,927 children who were either killed, burned and dismembered, while another 17,000 have become orphans. 

Still, some 11,487 women have lost their lives, and another 60,000 are in critical condition due to the lack of healthcare while 155,000 are facing multiple challenges in accessing essential healthcare before and after childbirth, according to figures released by the embassy.

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Mr Shawaeh described the October 7 day as a “Trojan Horse” that legitimized televised violence and stressed the need for clarity amid what he termed as rampant misinformation from biased Western media.

“The relentless USA-backed Israeli bombardments have claimed the lives of 10,449 school students, 613 university students, 419 school teachers and staff, and 111 university professors and staff. 

“Additionally, 16,250 school students were injured and 625,000 students have been denied the right to education. 

“In the Occupied West Bank, 11,100 Palestinians are detained, with 40 killed due to severe torture and healthcare negligence. Among those detained are 740 children, 420 women and 9,000 administrative detainees,’’ he added.

He said 96% of Gaza citizens are facing a high level of malnutrition, including 49,300 pregnant women, adding that 65 per cent of the road network has been destroyed while 31 university buildings have been completely destroyed, with 55 others partially destroyed, leaving 88,000 college students and 5,000 professors unable to access their universities.

Mr Shawesh added that 174 Palestinian media correspondents were also killed and 190 were injured, with 87 media outlets destroyed, accusing Israel of using all means and measures to stifle the truth and the voice of reality on the ground.

He also detailed the harsh realities for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with over 11,000 detainees, including children and women. “We cannot ignore the suffering of our people who are facing torture and healthcare negligence,” he said.

Shawesh condemned the Israeli government’s actions, particularly the reported abduction of nearly 1,500 unidentified Palestinian bodies since October 7. 

“The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs reported that 238 of its employees and preachers were martyred, 19 others arrested, 814 mosques destroyed, while 148 were partially destroyed. 

“Additionally, three churches were destroyed, eight cemeteries were destroyed, and 11 partially destroyed. 148 graves were dug up, and thousands of bodies were stolen.

“Last Thursday “October 3rd”, American warplanes carrying American air-to-ground missiles, with the joystick in the stained hands of the Israeli war pilots raided a café in the Tulkarm Palestinian refugee camp, killing, dismembering and burning 18 people among the occupants,” he said.