The Palestinian Ambassador in Nigeria, Abu Shawesh, has described the current situation in Gaza, as a “genocide” perpetuated by the United States and Israel.
The envoy stated this on Thursday in Abuja while addressing journalists as the conflict entered its 384th day, with disturbing statistics revealing the devastating toll on the Palestinian population.
“It’s not a humanitarian crisis; it’s the US-Israeli genocide, period. Call a spade a spade,” Ambassador Shawesh stated, urging the international community to confront the reality of the situation.
He highlighted the tragic consequences of the ongoing violence, stressing the plight of children in particular. “Gaza is home to the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history,” he lamented.
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“The smell of death is everywhere as bodies are left lying on the roads or under the rubble.” He painted a haunting picture of life in northern Gaza, where residents are left “waiting to die,” feeling “deserted, hopeless, and alone.”
While citing Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, the ambassador shared distressing statistics that underscore the human cost of the conflict.
“We have 42,603 registered martyrs, out of whom 17,000 are children. This includes 171 infants and 786 children less than a year old,” he noted.
“37 have died of hunger, while thousands more face dire medical conditions due to the lack of treatment.”
Ambassador Shawesh also brought attention to the psychological toll of the conflict, particularly on children.
“Gaza is the real-world embodiment of hell on earth for its one million children. It’s getting worse day by day,” he said, emphasizing the impact of airstrikes and military operations.
“Today, the south is desperately overcrowded, lacking essential water, sanitation, and shelter.”
As the situation continues to deteriorate, Ambassador Shawesh called for immediate global action to address what he termed a blatant injustice.