African Union (AU) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and President William Ruto on October 7 expressed their concern over the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian hostilities.
However, there were disparities in their views concerning who to blame for the ongoing war.
While president Ruto said Kenya stands with Israel, the AU chairperson stated that the Palestinian people were denied the right to an independent and sovereign state.
Moreover, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in a statement expressed his concern over the current Israeli-Palestinian hostilities, which has led to the death of scores of civilians.
“The chairperson wishes to recall that 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,” Faki stated.
The AU Chairperson also called for peace in the region to avert such casualties.
Furthermore, in his statement, Moussa Faki called on the two warring countries to put an end to military hostilities.
He asked them to return to the negotiation table without conditions to implement the principle of two States living side by side.
According to the AU Chairperson, these negotiations would safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people.
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“The Chairperson further calls on the international community, and the major world powers in particular, to assume their responsibilities to impose peace and guarantee the rights of the two peoples,” the statement read in part.
Ruto’s Statement on The War
Nonetheless, President William Ruto while making remarks on the Israel-Palestine hostilities stated that Kenya stands with Israel.
“Kenya joins the rest of the world in solidarity with the State of Israel and unequivocally condemn terrorism and attacks on innocent civilians in the country,” he said.
According to the Head of State, the violence in Israel endangers international peace and security.
As a result, he asked the international community to take action against the organizers of the violence as soon as possible.
“The international community must mobilize to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, sponsors, supporters and enablers of these reprehensible criminal acts of terrorism to account and speedily bring them to justice,” the President noted.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The major cause of conflict in the country is Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.
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The world community regards Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank as illegal under international law.
Moreover, the UN General Assembly has voted multiple resolutions denouncing the occupation and even asked Israel to leave.
Israel, on the other hand, has refused to comply with these resolutions.
This year alone, Israel has approved almost 13,000 settlement homes.
Further, those who oppose the violent appropriation of Palestinian land are slaughtered.
